Hey guys first off thanks for all the support in writing this I really appreciate it and I really love REVIEWS too so if you have the time to comment then that would be great!

Again –these characters do not belong to me, they belong to Richelle Mead and no copyright infringement is intended. Other than that, I hope you enjoy chapter 7.

-Val

Chapter 7

The weeks began to pass; I spent most of my free time with Rose, training her, trying to get her to stay out of trouble. I continued to have her stretch and send her to run because in truth, if she ran into Strigoi, that was her only option.

Rose continued to haunt my dreams at night, or rather continue to torment me with beautiful bliss I could only see, but never touch or possess. Additionally, my grandmother's words kept coming into my head –steal a Roza from the garden. Oh Grandma, that garden is forbidden fruit.

Sometimes in the dreams I would just watch her. But lately, they were getting a bit more personal. Suddenly I wasn't just looking, I was touching –feeling what I could never have –her hair, her eyes, cupping her chin and slowly my hands would mid-ways down her body. Then I'd wake up, sweat all over me –I'd usually go for a run after that, unable to trust my dreams.

In general, we got along pretty well –she wasn't a difficult person to get along with, at least not with me. She was respectful towards me, with the exception of her witty comments making fun of my jacket which she swore was a Western or calling me comrade. Honestly, she was nice to be around, she filled the gap I had always felt and suddenly, I wasn't so lonely anymore.

One day, after three weeks of Rose's return to the Academy, she walked in and found me sprawled on a mat listening to music. At first, she seemed excited about the boom box, but I think when she realized I was listening to "When Doves Cry," that excitement dimmed.

"Whoa, Dimitri," she said as she tossed her bag on the floor, "I realize this is actually a current hit in Eastern Europe right now, but do you think we could maybe listen to something that was recorded before I was born."

I tried to act like that didn't bother me, only letting my eyes react to her comment, "What does it matter to you?" I asked, "I'm the one who's listening to it. You'll be outside running."

She made a face as she set her foot up on one of the bars as she stretched her hamstring. All in all, I didn't really mind Rose's running commentary, so long as she didn't slack in training, I didn't really care.

"Hey," she asked suddenly, "What's with all the running anyway? I mean, I realize the importance of stamina and all that, but shouldn't I be moving on to something with a little hitting? They're still killing me in group practice."

I didn't really appreciate her questioning my methods –knowing it would only lead to me telling her a veracity that she wasn't really interested in hearing. "Maybe you should hit harder," I responded dryly, trying to evade this conversation.

"I'm serious," she responded.

"Hard to tell the difference I said, setting my book down, "my job is to get you ready to defend the princess and fight dark creatures, right?"

"Yup," Rose answered.

"So tell me this: suppose you manage to kidnap her again and take her off to the mall. While you're there, a Strigoi comes at you. What will you do?"

"Depends on what store we're in," she answered. This wasn't something I wanted to joke around about.

I looked at her seriously then.

"Fine," she began, "I'll stab him with a silver stake."

I sat up now, "Oh?" I raised my eyebrows at her, "Do you have a silver stake? Do you even know how to use one?" I knew she didn't.

"Okay. I'll cut his head off."

"Ignoring the fact that you don't have a weapon to do that, how will you compensate for the fact that he may be a foot taller than you?"

She was annoyed now, "Fine, then I'll set him on fire."

"With what?" I asked.

"All right, I give up. You've already got the answer. You're just messing with me. I'm at the mall and I see a Strigoi. What do I do?"

I looked at her deep in her eyes, "You run." Because I knew that she had no chance against a Strigoi.

She looked angry but more so hurt –that bothered me a lot. I didn't mean to hurt her feelings; I just wanted to keep her safe. We didn't speak until it was time to run and then I told her that I would run with her, hoping she wouldn't be so angry with me anymore. I hated her being mad at me. She cheered up then, and together, we headed to the track.

We began running, I was a lot faster than her, so I slowed down to match her, that way we could stay together –and I'd actually get to look at her, I couldn't if she was behind me.

She seemed bothered by the fact that she slowed me down because she suddenly picked up her own pace trying to get my approval, I guessed. It was … well… really cute.

After reaching the third to last loop, a couple of novices passed by who were preparing to go to group practice, and then I heard Mason cheer, "Good form Rose."

That wouldn't have bothered me if she hadn't acknowledged them, but when she turned around to smile and wave back, I grew incredibly jealous.

"You're slowing down," I told her harshly, she looked surprised at my tone but I was angry, "Is this why your times aren't getting any faster? You're easily distracted?"

Her face turned beet red then, portraying her embarrassment. She picked up the pace once more; when we finished, I realized she'd shaved off two minutes off her best time.

"Not bad, huh?" she asked, "Looks like I could get as far as the Limited before the Strigoi got me at the mall. Not sure how Lissa would do."

I felt bad about what I had said earlier, remembering how I had hurt her so I told her, "If she was with you, she'd be okay."

She looked up surprised then, her face lit up with joy and I couldn't help feel amused and elated that I had caused that reaction in her.

I knew that it was only because she looked up to me –probably because of my reputation here at the Academy and that it wasn't anything like the feelings I was unable to control towards her –but it still felt great to be admired by someone so absolutely beautiful.

We were looking at each other for a minute, both us not speaking, just enjoying the moment of being close to one another and then something happened.

All I saw was Rose suddenly gasp in pain and cradle up –I panicked for an instant –but just like that she was sprinting down across the track towards the Moroi dorms. She hadn't said a word, but I realized –Lissa. It didn't matter that she had just run a mini-marathon, she sprinted, legs now at a much faster pace than before and I just followed after her. It wasn't long before I caught up to her, I kept trying to get her to tell me what was wrong, but she was so determined to reach Lissa she wouldn't answer me.

We finally reached the Moroi dorms and Rose immediately demanded to Lissa, "What's wrong? What happened?"

Lissa didn't answer at first; she just put her arms around Rose and sobbed into her chest. Rose held her there, comforting her, stroking her hair and told her everything was going to be alright. I hovered over them, adrenaline pulsing through my veins, my body coiling ready to attack.

About a half hour later, we managed to get inside Lissa's dorm with three other guardians, Headmistress Kirova and the hall matron so they could see what had happened. Outside in the hallway, immature Moroi girls crowded, trying to see what was going on.

There was a reddish orange fox on Lissa's pillow whose throat had been sliced open.

Disgust seemed to show on everyone's face including mine

"It was still alive when I got back," Lissa whispered to Rose, "Barely. Oh God, it was twitching. It must have suffered so much."

"Did you—?" Rose asked her. Did you what? They started to do that silent conversation thing again, only this time, it was getting on my nerves. I didn't like not knowing what was going on.

"No. I wanted to…I started to…" Lissa responded making my curiosity augment.

"Then forget about it," Rose told her sharply, "It's stupid. Somebody's stupid joke. They'll clean it up. Probably even give you a new room if you want." There was something going on here.

"Rose… do you remember that one time…." Is this why they had left? Is this what was happening before?

"Stop it," Rose answered Lissa, "Forget about it. This isn't the same thing."

"What if someone saw? What if someone knows…?" Lissa continued.

"No. It's not the same. It has nothing to do with that. Do you hear me?" Rose then noticed me starring at her in what had to be a bewildered expression, "It's going to be okay. Everything's going to be okay."

"Get this cleaned up. And find out if anyone knows anything," ordered Headmistress Kirova.

She then realized Rose was there and ordered me to take her away. Rose begged to stay with Lissa –that hurt –for one, I hated not giving her what she wanted, but I also cared about Lissa and she was hurting right now and she really needed her best friend there, but I couldn't question the Headmistress's orders.

I walked her back to the novices' dorm, trying to find the best approach to find out what Rose and Lissa's hushed whispers had been about.

When we were almost there I realized it's now or never so I asked, "You know something. Something about what happened. Is this what you meant when you told Headmistress Kirova that Lissa was in danger?"

"I don't know anything. It's just some sick joke." I could read right through her lies –especially since she wouldn't look at me in the eyes.

I just ignored her and continued. "Do you have any idea who'd do it? Or why?"

She pondered this for minute, then finally answered, "No, no clue."

I tried to reason with her, "Rose, if you know something, tell me. We're on the same side. We both want to protect her. This is serious."

She spun around then, anger written all over her face, "Yeah, it is serious. It's all serious. And you have me doing laps every day when I should be learning to fight and defend her! If you want to help her, then teach me something! Teach me how to fight. I already know how to run away."

I knew that she was angry about the fox and that she was taking it out on me. It still hurt though –she didn't understand that we didn't spend enough time together for her to learn how to fight and flight –and right now flight was more important –it would keep her alive.

During her outburst, I kept my expression composed, figuring this wasn't the best time to confront her.

When she finished, I beckoned her forward, no longer wishing to be around her, "Come on. You're late for practice."

I spent the rest of the day sad that Rose had lashed out on me. I cared so much about her. I enjoyed her company, her wit and humorous remarks, the way her hair hung down her face, the way she smelled and she'd hurt me with her words.

It was stupid anyway. For one, any feeling other than the professional one we had together was completely immoral and despicable of me to feel. It'd be me taking advantage of her. Also, she had been really angry about what had happen to Lissa, and I'm sure anyone within a close vicinity of her at that moment would have received the same reaction.

It didn't make me feel much better though.