So sorry it took forever for me to update I've just really been really busy with school. This chapter's long though to make up for it!

Thanks everyone for the reviews I really appreciate it.

Let me know what you think! Thanks - Val

Chapter 15

A couple of days later I was sent for to go speak to the Headmistress. When I got there, Lissa happened to be outside the office.

"Hey Dimitri," she called.

"Hello Princess," I answered with a bow.

"It's Lissa," she insisted, "And I just wanted to tell you the Headmistress is going to inform you that you're going to come with me to the mall," a funny feeling came over me as she looked into my eyes, "convince her to let Rose come."

"What? I don't know if the Headmistress will budge," I told her, trying to shake off the feeling.

"You'll convince her," she said. "Go and convince Kirova," she gestured to the door.

I walked into the office and Headmistress Kirova informed me that Lissa, Natalie and Victor Dashkov and a few guardians would be going on a trip to the mall together and since I was Lissa's guardian I would be going too.

"Will Miss Hathaway be going?" I asked Headmistress Kirova.

"Oh please don't tell me Vasilisa put you up to this… she's still supposed to be on probation," she continued.

"Yes," I agreed, "But she has behaved accordingly, followed every rule and even asked for more practices, now I have her for two additional hours a day. I think she deserves a break," I told her.

"Are you sure she won't try to escape the Academy again, I'm still not sure if she can be trusted," she replied.

"I'll keep my eyes on both on them, besides I think it would be more of a training than a mall escape," I told her, "Rose hasn't had field experience and I believe that this could really help her," I urged.

"Fine, but if anything goes wrong, it'll be on you Guardian Belikov, understood?" she informed me.

"Yes, of course Headmistress," I assured her.

"Oh, and I'd like to know how her so called field experience at the mall goes," she continued, "I'll be sure to ask Guardian Alto."

"Of course," I replied, realizing Rose wasn't going to be able to get much free time during the trip then.

She would probably be ecstatic anyway though just to get away which made me happy just thinking about it.

She really did deserve a break with all that had been going on.

It was a little out of character of me to ask the Headmistress that.

But I just shrugged it off… even though the way Lissa had urged me sort of felt … strange.

I guess she really did have some serious persuasive skills.

Later at practice I informed Rose of the good news, and the strings that were attached.

"Headmistress Kirova thinks you've done well since coming back," I informed Rose.

"Aside from starting a fight in Mr. Nagy's class?" asked Rose.

"She doesn't blame you for that. No entirely. I convinced her you needed a break… and that you could use this as a training exercise," I was a little nervous to mention the second part.

"Training exercise?" asked Rose.

I gave her a brief explanation as we walked off to meet the others, Prince Victor Dashkov, his guardians Ben and Spiridon, Guardian Stan Alto, Natalie, Lissa and Camille.

Victor was going into a coughing frenzy, he seemed very ill yet I admired the fact that he came to spend time with his daughter anyway.

We rode out the two hour trip to Missoula in a large school van, leaving just after sunrise. The malls would be open during the day so we couldn't go at night. The van had tinted glass to filter out the light and keep the worst away from the vampires.

I sat at the back of the van with Rose and Spiridon so I could dispense guardian information to Rose.

"Camille and Natalie don't have personal guardians," I explained, "They're both under the protection of their families' guardians. Since they are Academy students leaving campus, a school guardian accompanies them –Stan. I go because I'm Lissa's assigned guardian. Most girls her age wouldn't have a personal guardian yet, but circumstances make her unusual."

"She's supposed to have two guardians. Princes and princesses always do," replied Rose.

Spiridon answered her with his Southern accent despite his Greek name, "Don't worry, she'll have plenty when the time comes. Dimitri's already one of them. Odds are you'll be one too. And that's why you're here today."

"The training part," answered Rose.

"Yup," Spiridon replied, "You're going to be Dimitri's partner."

A moment of funny silence fell then probably not noticeable to anyone except Rose and me, and our eyes locked.

I felt the need to clarify unnecessarily, "Guarding partner."

"Yup," agreed Spiridon, oblivious to the tension around him.

"You'll probably always be near guard," I continued, "You're female and the same age as the princess. You can say close to her without attracting any attention."

"And I can't ever take my eyes off her," Rose noted, "Or you."

Spiridon laughed and elbowed me at that, "You've got a star student there. Did you give her a stake?" he asked.

"No, she's not ready," I answered.

Rose responded just I had expected, "I would be if someone would show me how to use one."

"More to it than just using the stake," I argued, "You've still got to subdue them. And you've got to bring yourself to kill them."

"Why wouldn't I kill them?" inquired Rose.

"Most Strigoi used to be Moroi who purposely turned. Sometimes they're Moroi or Dhampirs turned by force. It doesn't matter. There's a strong chance you might know one of them. Could you kill someone you used to know?" I asked.

"I guess so. I'd have to right? If it's them or Lissa…"

I didn't like her answer, "You might still hesitate. And that hesitation could kill you. And her."

"Then how do you make sure you don't hesitate?" she asked.

I told her what I always did, "You have to keep telling yourself that they aren't the same people you knew. They've become something dark and twisted. Something unnatural. You have to let go of attachments and do what's right. If they have any grain of their former selves left, they'll probably be grateful."

"Grateful for me killing them?" Rose questioned.

"If someone turned you into a Strigoi, what would you want?" I asked her.

She didn't reply at that, but I urged on, never taking my eyes off her beautiful face.

"What would you want if you knew you were going to be converted into a Strigoi against your will? If you knew you would lose all sense of your old morals and understanding of what's right and wrong? If you knew you'd live the rest of your life –your immortal life –killing innocent people? What would you want?" I asked.

The van had grown uncomfortably silent and I knew that she would come to the same realization I had long ago.

"If I became Strigoi," began Rose, "I'd want someone to kill me."

"So would I," I answered quietly, realizing that Roza and I had this strange connection between us, we both understood the relationship between good and evil.

"It reminds me of Mikhail hunting Sonya," murmured Prince Victor.

"Sonya Kar…you mean Ms. Karp?" asked Rose.

"What about her?" asked Lissa.

Rose answered her, "She became Strigoi. By choice, but I don't know who Mikhail is," Rose asked.

"Mikhail Tanner," Spiridon answered.

"Oh. Guardian Tanner. He was here before we left. Why is he chasing Ms. Karp?" asked Rosd.

"To kill her," I answered flatly, "They were lovers."

There was tension all inside the van and Prince Victor politely said, "Perhaps it is time to talk about something else. Today isn't a day to dwell on depressing topics."

I think everyone was relieved went we finally arrived at the mall; I immediately shifted into my Guardian role, becoming increasingly aware of my surroundings, making sure danger wasn't lurking in the shadows. Rose stayed near Lissa as near guard while they wandered from store to store and Rose sort of looked delighted. She hadn't really had any fun since she came back to the Academy.

All of the Guardians received communication devices that we sometimes used in large areas with group guarding; Rose immediately protested her lack of one.

"Why don't I get one if I'm on this assignment?" she asked.

"You'll learn better without one," I assured her. "If you can guard Lissa the old fashioned way, you can handle anything."

I didn't think she'd budge but she just said, "Fine," with a slight attitude.

Prince Victor and Spiridon stayed near the girls while Ben and I fanned out, trying not to look like creepy stalker guys watching teenage girls.

I watched the girls intently and scanned the area, making sure that they were safe. The chances of them getting attacked here were very slim, but I wasn't taking any chances.

I also got the chance to see Rose interact with Lissa.

Lissa was showing Rose a skimpy low cut tank top then, embellished with lace; I think she was offering to buy it for her.

Rose's eyes looked longing so I assumed she'd say yes, and then she made eye contact with me, shook her head and handed the tank top back to Rose.

I took a small satisfaction in that.

At the end, Rose ended up with three thermal shirts and a sweatshirt, luckily Lissa hadn't convinced her to buy any slutty tops.

Rose had her hair up now; like I'd told her to wear it and I'd smiled at her when I had seen her.

Then, as Lissa was walking towards the dressing room something caught her eye and she pulled a black dress off the rack. The dress was made of silky black material, strapless and sleek and falling to about the knees with just a slight flair at the hemline, everything else looked clingy, like it could show everything making any guy's imagination run wild.

I had a feeling Lissa hadn't been planning on wearing it herself and she immediately showed it to Rose.

I think Lissa tried to get Rose to try it on but she shook her head, however, Lissa bought it anyway.

Rose would look dead sexy in the dress; maybe even challenge the school dress code.

While we were waiting I remembered that Rose had complained that she didn't have much lip gloss left, it was the only materialistic thing I'd heard her complain about and it was something I could actually afford.

It may have seemed inappropriate for a mentor to buy his students lip gloss but the minute I saw it I knew it would make Rose happy.

Prince Victor then said he was going to buy Rose a necklace that both the Lissa and her were admiring but couldn't afford. It would probably make my gift look even less than nothing, but that's the way it is. I didn't exactly have the means to buy Rose expensive things, but she also wasn't the time to long for such things.

The ride home was in tired silence with everyone's sleeping schedules messed up by the daylight trip –it didn't affect me much though, I was used to doing night guard which meant staying up during the day.

Rose sat next to me and leaned back, our arms touching and the closeness felt amazing.

"So I can't ever try on clothes again?" Rose asked quietly. All of the girls had fallen asleep but Prince Victor and the guardians remained awake.

"When you aren't on duty, you can," I responded, "You can do it during your time off."

"I don't ever want time off," Rose replied. "I want to take care of Lissa always," she yawned then, obviously tired.

Then her tone shifted and her question surprised me, "Did you see the dress?"

"I saw the dress," I answered flatly.

"Did you like it?" she asked curiously.

I didn't answer –it would be inappropriate for me to.

"Am I going to endanger my reputation if I wear it to the dance?" she asked.

When I spoke, it was barely above a whisper, "You'll endanger the school."

She smiled at that, and then shortly after fell asleep. Her head eventually fell on my shoulder. I just stared at her, enjoying this precious moment where I actually get to be close to her.

I noticed goose bumps on her arm then and put my long coat over her, covering her like a blanket.

Rose woke up when the van stopped at the school and pulled my coat off of her, climbing out after me, she looked happy and awake.

She sighed, "Back to prison," and started walking next to Lissa towards the commons. "Maybe if you fake a heart attack, I can make a break for it," Rose suggested sarcastically.

"Without your clothes?" asked Lissa handing her the bag. Rose swung it happily.

"I can't wait to see the dress," Lissa told her.

"Me either," responded Rose. "If they let me go. Kirova's still deciding if I've been good enough."

"Show her those boring shirts you bought. She'll go into a coma. I'm about ready to," Lissa answered. The shirts weren't boring, it was cold in Montana and they would keep her warm. Besides, Rose didn't need to attract any more attention than she already received.

Rose just laughed and hopped onto one of the wooden benches, pacing with Lissa as they walked along, "They aren't that boring," she responded.

Rose then hopped onto another bench, "I'm not that responsible."

"Hey," called Spiridon as the rest of us trailed behind, "You're still on duty. No fun allowed up there."

"No fun here," Rose called back. "I swear –shit"

And that's when she fell into the bench. I think that she was trying to jump off, but as she did, the wood caved beneath her like it was made of paper and her foot got caught, not going with the rest of her body. Rose's ankle bent in an unnatural direction and she crashed down.

I immediately ran to her a little panicked that she wasn't okay. She was screaming obscenities and I kept telling her to calm down, my adrenaline was pumping and Spiridon and I immediately went to try to break her foot out of the wood and free her.

We finally managed to break the bench apart, freeing Rose's foot and I carried her towards the infirmary.

The entire time she complained that she might not be able to take her trainings in the spring and then she won't graduate.

I assured her that it wasn't important, that she would be okay.

Lissa came with me and stayed with Rose up until a little while before she woke up.

Dr. Olendzki gave Rose some medicine so she was out for a couple hours.

I stayed with her, I didn't want her to wake up and there be no one there.

Luckily, the doctor informed me she hadn't broken anything, that it was just a scare. I was relieved; it would be horrible for Rose if she couldn't take her finals in the spring.

Eventually she woke up, looking a little disoriented.

"Rose," I called.

She turned her head towards me sitting on the chair beside the bed.

"Hey," she answered, her voice coming out as a croak.

"How do you feel?" I asked.

"Weird. Kind of groggy," she replied.

"Dr. Olendzki gave you something for the pain –you seemed pretty bad when we brought you in," I informed her, even though the pain killers had been somewhat unnecessary.

"I don't remember that…How long have I been out?" she asked.

"A few hours," I responded.

"Must have been strong. Must still be strong. I don't hurt at all," she said looking at her foot.

I shook my head and explained, "No because you weren't seriously hurt."

"Are you sure? I remember … the way it bent. No. Something must be broken." She sat up then examining her ankle, "Or at least sprained."

I moved forward to stop her, "Be careful. Your ankle might be fine, but you're probably still a little out of it."

She carefully shifted to the edge of the bed and looked down at her ankle.

"God, I got lucky," she said after an examination, "If I'd hurt it, it would put me out of practice for a while."

I smiled then remembering what it felt like to hold her in my arms and returned to the chair, "I know. You kept telling me that while I was carrying you. You were very upset."

"You… you carried me?" she asked.

"After we broke the bench apart and freed your foot," I explained.

Rose looked excited but then her expression faded into embarrassment.

"I was taken down by a bench," she groaned.

"What?" I asked.

She elaborated, "I survived the whole day guarding Lissa, and you guys said I did a good job. Then, I get back here and meet my downfall in the form of a bench. Do you know how embarrassing it is? And all those guys saw, too."

"It wasn't your fault," I tried to console her; "No one knew the bench was rotted. It looked fine."

"Still," she argued, "I should have just stuck to the sidewalk like a normal person. The other novices are going to give me shit when I get back."

I smiled at her then and asked, "Maybe presents will cheer you up."

"Presents?" she asked straightening up.

I smiled and handed her a small box with a piece of paper. It was Prince Victor's present, he had asked me to give it to Rose when she awoke.

"This is from Prince Victor," I told her.

She read the note and said, "That's nice of him," and then looked inside. "Whoa. Very nice."

It was a rose necklace, I noticed as she held it up. It looked very expensive.

"This is pretty extreme for a get well present," Rose noted.

"He actually bought it in honor of you doing so well on your first day as an official guardian. He saw you and Lissa looking at it," I explained.

"Wow. I don't think I did that good of a job," she said.

"I do," I told her.

Grinning, she placed the necklace back in the box and set it near a table. "You did say presents right? Like more than one?" she asked.

I laughed at her and handed her the small plain bag with the lip gloss, "This is from me."

Puzzled and excited, she opened it.

"How'd you manage to buy this?" she asked. "I saw you the whole time at the mall."

"Guardian secrets," I told her.

"What's this for? For my first day?" she asked.

I answered honestly, "No. Because I thought it would make you happy."

Rose then leaned forward and hugged me, taking me by surprise.

"Thank you," she whispered.

I was stiff at first, but then I relaxed and reached around, resting my hands on Rose's lower back.

"I'm glad you're better," I told her, "When I saw you fall…"

"You thought, Wow she's a loser," suggested Rose.

"That's not what I thought," I told her.

I pulled back slightly then, looking at her eyes. Then slowly and carefully, I reached my hand out, tracing the edge of her cheekbone and moving up the side of her seductive face. She shivered at my touch, but didn't pull away at all. I wounded a lock of her hair in one finger then, just like I had that day at the gym.

Rose then dragged her eyes down, and I think she was looking at my lips.

The haze was broken when there was a soft knock at the door, hastily; we drew back, "I thought I heard you talking. How do you feel?" asked Dr. Olendzki.

I couldn't believe I'd just touched Rose like that, it was weird, like something had just came over me.

She hadn't pulled back though, either.

The Doctor made Rose lie down, touch and bend her ankle, assessing for damage and shook her head when she finished.

"You're lucky," she said. "With all the noise you make coming in here, I thought your foot had been amputated. Must have just been shock. I'd feel better if you sat out from your normal trainings tomorrow, but otherwise, you're good to go."

Rose then began putting on her slippers and looked at me; again, I felt that warm flush take over.

"You have a guardian angel," I told her.

"I don't believe in angels," she answered. "I believe in what I can do for myself."

"Well then," I concluded, "You have an amazing body."

Rose glanced up questioningly at me then and I felt the need to clarify, "For healing, I mean. I heard about the accident…"

"Everyone said I shouldn't have survived," Rose explained, "Because of where I sat and the way the car hit the tree. Lissa was really the only one in a secure spot. She and I walked away with only a few scratches."

"And you don't believe in angels or miracles." I said.

"Nope. I—" she began but then a shift happened. She looked really concerned.

"What's wrong?" I asked Rose.

"Where's Lissa? Was she here?" she asked almost frantically.

"I don't know where she is," I answered. "She wouldn't leave your side while I brought you in. She stayed right next to the bed; right up until the doctor came in. You calmed down when she sat next to you."

Rose closed her eyes then, I think trying to do that bond thing where she can read Lissa's thoughts.

After five minutes, I tried shaking Rose back to reality, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. Doctor Olenzki was helping me and it seemed like ages before she snapped back.

Rose's voice cracked a little then as she spoke, "I know where she is. Lissa. We have to help her," she pleaded.