Vampire Academy – Book 1

Dimitri's Perspective

Hey this is my first book so please be understanding – Disclaimer!! These characters don't belong to me but to the wonderful Richelle Mead and no intended copyright infringement. Let me know what you think and I'll be sure to be working on it! Thanks! -Val

Chapter 2

We managed to get the two girls to the airport and onto the jet without much difficulty. The academy's private jet was ready for us when we reached it. I looked over to the Princess and Rosemarie and suddenly realized their secretive whispering couldn't be innocent conversation so I told the guardian who escorted Rosemarie, "Don't let them talk to each other. Five minutes together, and they'll come up with an escape plan," there was absolutely no way that I would allow that.

Once the plane took off, however, I relaxed, ever so slightly. The possibility of them getting off this plane was nonexistent. Princess Dragomir sat next to me, holding a water bottle unnecessarily tight and when I took a look at her, her eyes showed nothing but fear. Why was she so afraid of me? Then I realized that she was eyeing the tattooed symbols on the back of my neck –my molnija marks-the streaks of jagged lightning crossing in an X symbol. Each one was for a strigoi I killed. It wasn't exactly something I was proud of either, because even though I knew strigoi were completely evil, it was still taking a life. I hadn't completely come to terms with that.

I also started to notice the way Rosemarie and her stole glances to each other, it was as if they were almost having a silent conversation, reading each other's thoughts. Where had I heard that from? I pondered and realized that it was from the guardian stories, when a moroi and their guardian would become bonded and the guardian could read the moroi's thoughts. That couldn't be possible though, it hadn't happened in a very long time –or else I would have probably heard of it.

I looked at Rosemarie then; she seemed, gone, distant, out of it. It was as if she had left her body and suddenly I saw her face become twisted, and she grimaced. It was like she was back once again. What had just happened? Could it be true? Could they really be bonded?

Towards the end of the flight, I decided to go sit next to Rosemarie, asking the guardian there to switch seats with me. As soon as I sat down she turned away pointedly, staring at the window absentmindedly. It was a bit juvenile since I was very aware of her arms clenched in tight fists, but I decided to still try to talk to her, there was something I needed to ask. I hadn't completely ruled out the bonded theory.

"Were you really going to attack all of us?" I asked finally. She didn't respond though. So I continued, "Doing that…protecting her like that –it was very brave. Stupid, but brave. Why did you even try it?"

She then brushed hair out of her face, looked at me straight in the eyes and said, "Because I'm her guardian," and turned back towards the window like it was the most obvious thing in the world. And I suppose it should be, but most novices wouldn't take their jobs so seriously. I remembered that I had always taken my job seriously, even when I was a novice and the other students would insist that I take a break. And their connection, it seemed more than just that. After several moment I realized she didn't really want me to sit next to her and I decided to go back to the front of the jet, after all, hell was about to be paid once she visited Headmistress Kirova, it was no secret that she detested Rosemarie.

When we landed after, we drove Rosemarie and Lissa back to the academy. It was around sunset, the beginning of the day for the academy. This academy wasn't as old as the one that I had attended in Europe, but it was built in the same beautiful architecture, it's medievalness reminded me of home in Siberia. As we walked, suddenly I saw Rosemarie break from her guardian and run up to me.

"Hey, Comrade," she called.

I kept walking and refused to acknowledge her with that sort of comment, I called, "You want to talk now?" as sped up as did she to catch up.

"Are you taking us to Kirova?" she asked vulnerably.

"Headmistress Kirova," I corrected her. She then looked at Lissa and again, I saw the silent conversation happening between them.

"Headmistress. Whatever. She's still a self-righteous old bit-," but she suddenly stopped talking when she realized we were walking through the commons. It was breakfast time, and all their class was gathered together instantly. Hundreds of eyes set on both Rosemarie and Princess Dragomir all of a sudden. There was so much tension I thought someone would burst.

I looked at Rosemarie and noticed her reaction, a lazy grin. Everyone gawked at them, their eyes widening, they were legends here at the academy. Most of the stares were curious, but one of them from a small Moroi girl was not friendly at all. She looked more like she wanted to rip the Princess's eyes out. It looked like they had been popular back here at the academy when they had actually attended.

We finally reached Headmistress Kirova's office and most of the other guardians left with the exception of Alberta and me. We stood along the wall and tried to fade out while they talked. The Headmistress looked terribly angry, and just as she was about to open her mouth Prince Victor Dashkov cut her off.

"Vasilia" he spoke.

Prince Dashkov then rose from the chair he had been seated at with what looked like great effort, since he was very ill and the Princess ran to him, throwing her arms around him for a hug.

"Uncle" she whispered, sounding like teardrops would come out at any moment.

"You have no idea how glad I am to see you safe Vasilisa," he smiled, " and you too Rose."

They talked for few moments and then Vasilisa returned to her chair. The Headmistress lectured the girls, but then the attention shifted to Rosemarie.

"You, Miss Hathaway, broke the most sacred promise among out kind: the promise of a guardian to protect a Moroi. It is a great trust. A trust that you violated by selfishly taking the princess away from here. The Strigoi would love to finish of the Dragomirs, you nearly enabled them to do it."

"Rose didn't kidnap me," spoke up Lissa, "I wanted to go. Don't blame her."

The headmistress continued, "Miss Dragomir, you could have been the one who orchestrated the entire plan for all I know, but it was still her responsibility to make sure you didn't carry it out. If she'd done her duty, she would have notified someone. If she'd done her duty, she would have kept you safe."

Rosemarie snapped then, "I did my duty!" she shouted, I flinched and I think Alberta did too. "I did keep her safe! I kept her safe when none of you could do it. I took her away to protect her. I did what I had to. You certainly weren't going to." I wonder what exactly she meant by that.

Kirova stared, "Miss Hathaway, forgive me if I fail to see the logic of how taking her out of heavily guarded, magically secured environment is protecting her. Unless there's something you aren't telling us?"

Rosemarie than bit her lip.

"I see," she continued, "well then. By my estimation, the only reason you left –aside from the novelty of it, no doubt, was to avoid the consequences of that horrible destructive stunt you pulled just before your disappearance."

I had read reports about the incident, and it had said that Rose grabbed a baseball bat during one of the parties a student was having without permission and smashed an entire student's room.

"No, that's not-" Rose began but Kirova cut her off.

"And that only makes my decision that much easier. As a Moroi, the princess must continue here at the Academy for her own safety, but we have no such obligations to you. You will be sent away as soon as possible."

"I…what?" Rose began, suddenly realizing the severity of the situation, her audacity faltering.

Lissa then stood up to defend her, "You can't do that, she's my guardian."

"She is no such thing, particularly since she isn't even a guardian at all. She's still a novice."

"But my parents—" Lissa began.

"I know what your parents wanted, God rest their souls, but things have changed. Miss Hathaway is expendable. She doesn't deserve to be a guardian, and she will leave."

I didn't really like the way Kirova spoke about us like that. Expendable –when guardians were out there risking their lives every day and dedicating everything to them. And I didn't think it was right for her to throw Rosemarie out like that. It'd be a waste of talent. She could see that, right?

"Where are you going to send me? To my mom in Nepal? Did she even know I was gone? Or maybe you'll send me off to my father? Or maybe you're going to try and send me off to be a blood whore. Try that, and we'll be gone by the end of the day."

"Miss Hathaway," she hissed, "you are out of line."

I knew where this was going. I had to admit, this girl had guts, especially to stick it to Kirova and try to protect Lissa against all odds last night. Sending her off, I thought again, would never work out, with the way they acted, especially if they really are bonded.

I hadn't realized I spoke aloud until it was too late, "they have a bond." Kirova eyed me, and I knew I would have to explain. I looked at Rosemarie this time, "Rose knows what Vasilisa is feeling. Don't you?"

"No…" Kirova began, not wanting to believe it, "that's impossible. That hasn't happened in centuries."

"It's obvious, I suspected it as soon as I started watching them.

Neither Lissa nor Rose responded, and when I looked at Rose again, she averted her eyes.

Victor then chimed in "that is a gift, a rare and wonderful thing."

I added, "the best guardians always had that bond, in the stories."

Kirova began again, outrage painted in every word, "Stories that are centuries old, surely you aren't suggesting we let her stay at the Academy after everything she's done?"

I admitted, "She might be wild and disrespectful, but she has potential—" she reminded me so much of me when I was younger.

"Wild and disrespectful," Rose began, "Who the hell are you anyway? Outsourced help?"

I couldn't believe she'd say that. After all, here I was advocating for her. She was so juvenile, she didn't even understand when to pick her battles.

Kirova quickly informed her, "Guardian Belikov is the princess's guardian now," said Kirova. "Her sanctioned guardian." I didn't think Rose would like that one too much.

"You got cheap foreign labor to protect Lissa?" Ouch, like she was even American. Nearly all moroi and dhampir roots are Eastern European.

Kirova then threw her hands up in exasperation, "You see? Completely undisciplined! All the psychic bonds and very raw potential in the world can't make up for that. A guardian without discipline is worse than no guardian."

"So teach her discipline," I insisted determined not to lose this battle, "Classes just started. Put her back in and get her training again.

"Impossible," argued Kirova, "She'll still be hopelessly behind her peers.

"No I won't," Rose tried to assert.

"Then give her extra training sessions." I insisted. I didn't want to see her talent wasted. We already had such a shortage of guardians, especially female guardians as it is.

"Who's going to put in the extra time? You?" Kirova demanded.

That caught me off guard. "Well that's not what I—"

"Yes. That's what I thought," Kirova said with satisfaction.

I frowned and looked as Rose and Lisa, their eyes pleading to me.

"Yes," I finally said, deciding, it wasn't like I had much to do anyway, "I can mentor Rose. I'll give her extra sessions along with her normal ones."

"And then what? She goes unpunished?" asked Kirova.

"Find some other way to punish her. Guardian numbers have gone down too much to risk losing another. A girl, in particular.

Victor suddenly supported my argument, "I'm inclined to agree with Guardian Belikov. Sending Rose away would be a shame. A waste of talent."

"Please Ms. Kirova, let Rose stay," Lissa pleaded.

"If Miss Hathaway stays, here's how it will be. Your continued enrollment at St. Vladimir's is strictly probationary. Step out of line once, and you're gone. You will attend all classes and required trainings for novices your age. You will also train with Guardian Belikov in every spare moment you have –before and after classes. Other than that, you are banned from all social activities, except meals, and will stay in your dorm. Fail to comply with any of this, and you will be sent away."

Rose bickered, "Banned from all social activities? Are you trying to keep us apart? Afraid we'll run away again?

"I'm taking precautions. As I'm sure you recall, you were never properly punished for destroying school property. You have a lot to make up for. You are being offered a very generous deal. I suggest you do not let your attitude endanger it."

Then Rose looked at me. She was about to say something to screw herself over but I looked deeply into her eyes and she stopped herself from going on any further realizing her predicament.

"Fine, I accept." Rose finally said with resignation.

This definitely changed things.