Thanks for those of you who reviewed:) I hope to get some more, They inspire me to keep writing:) And any Ideas or suggestions on what Dimitri will do or think, then tell me. Remember

Chapter four

Red eyes were staring at me. I couldn't see anything else but them. Then, suddenly I was pushed back, and I could see what had attacked me. The owner of the red eyes towered over me. He was tall. Strong and fast by nature. And I was defensless. I turned and ran and ran and ran until-

I woke up. I was sweating and breathing heavily. I hated dreams like that. Ever since I staked my first Strigoi, I had dreams about them. Except for I was always able to fight, or atleast do something other than run. It reminded me of some one...

Rose.

She is as defensless as I just was. She doesn't even having running to rely on because she's not in shape. I was going to have to change that.

I was also going to have to change the fact that she was on my mind all the time. She was haunting my dreams, making me worry, and even making me open up, and show some fellings. I was Dimitri Belikov, and even though I'm very modest and hate to say this, but I'm a kick ass guardian. I'm supposed to be a fly on the wall, nothing but a shadow. Immpassive. But Rose...she just pushed all that aside. Great.

I climbed out of bed. It was time to get up anyways, and no way was I going back to sleep so i could get attacked by a strigoi.I sighed and got dressed, taking much longer than usual. Today I was to guard the front gate unitl lunch. Then I was free to do whatever until Rose's practice session.

I ran up to the gate to relieve one of the nighttime (or daytime as a human would say) guards and I stood there, my face black. There were a good five guardians out here with me, and they chatted about things that weren't really important. I grunted and spoke when apropriate, but really I was bored and ready to get inside. Nothing was going to happen as long as the wards were in place, and standing here was almost pointless. But I thought of all the students inside, and what would happen if they'd get killed by strigoi. The familys would be hurt. the friends would grieve. So I decided to quit whining and be glad I could help people.

I wasn't usaully this way. Either I was turning into a grump or something was sseriously wrong. I mentaly sighed and noted to check out something that would make me not dream so I could sleep more.

Lunch was the same as always, and the next thing on my to-do list was Roses session today.

"Comrade. What we doing today? Do I get to fight ya yet?" she asked as I walked in the gym. I shook My head, and she stretched for a few minutes, and I sent her out to run. Like I would be doing for a while. So, Sprawing out with my western book again, I read while she ran.

The western novels alway provided peace to me. Justice, outlaws, the whole nine yards. I had my own little world when I was reading them, and I alsomst didn't notice Rose when She ran up to me and said,"Alright cowboy. Can I be done? Or atleast get something to drink. This is killing me!" I looked up at her, and she was covered in sweat despite the cold weather. I smiled ruefully, knowing that she was going to have a hard time.

"Sure. Go get something t drink, and we'll be done. Just come prepared tommorow." her mouth opened to argue but I left before she had the chance.

The next few night passed easily, and I was in a much better mood at churc on Sunday. I went to find peace, and maybe even forgivness. Although I was removing evil from the world when I killed, I still took lives.

And as crazy as it sounds, Rose sat infront of me at church. Yes, she looked exrenly bored. She snuck a few glances at me, but I didn't really acknoledge her, and kept my face thoughtful yet careful. The preiest was talking about Vladimir And shadow kissed Anna, and I seen Rose jolt at the word. Next thing I knew she ran up to talk to the preist after service, and I left, wondering what in this place could atract her attention so much.

Shawdow kissed. I didn't know what it meant, but it meant something to Rose. And even though something told me it had to do with her and Lissa, I still couldn't place it. I would have to ask her one day.

"Whoa, Dimitri. I realize this is actually a current hit in Eastern Europe right now, but do you think that maybe we could listen to something that wasn't recorded before I was born?"

My eyes Flickered up to Rose, who had interupted my reading. But it was her practice time, so I decided to let that go. But she also called me Dimitri, which I didn't like much. At least it was a step up from comrade. She was speaking about the song I had playing on the cd player, 'When Doves Cry'.

"What does it matter to you? I'm going to be the one listening to it. You'll be outside running."

She made a face, and I ignored it. Thats what I did most of the time, ignore her smart comments or faces. She continued,

"Hey, whats 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 wanted to laugh at her, but i'm sure that wouln't have gotten us very far. So I lok=oked back at my book like I didn't care what she was saying and said," Maybe you shoul hit harder."

"I'm serious." words I've never heard her say.

"Hard to tell the difference. My job is to get you ready to defend the princess and fight dark creatures, right?" I set my book down but didn't get up.

"Yup."

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

"Depends on what store we're in." I really wanted to sigh heavily, but i Just looked at her.

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

I sat up, and thought about how she figured she knew every thing. If it wouldn't kill her, I wouldn love to see her fight with a Strigoi and show her. But, of course, I wanted her alive, and I'm sure Lissa did too. So I couldn't do that.

"Oh? Do you have a silver stake? Do you even know how to use one?" I asked.

She made a face, looking away. "Okay, I'll cut its head off."

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

She backed down a bit, but not completely. "Fine. I'll set him on fire."

"Again, with what?"

"Alright. I give up. You've already got the 're just messing with me. I'm at the mall and I see a Strigoi. What do I do?" she finally asked.

"You run."

I think she was on the verge of throwing a huge fit like she usually does, but I told her i'd run with her. That settled her a bit.

So we ran, and Rose was aparently trying to show me she could do it, so she would run a little faster. I'd catch up easily. Then one of her little admirers said,

"Good form, Rose!" she smiled and waved back.

"You're slowing down. Is this why your times aren't getting any faster? You're easily distracted?" I said, a little harsher than intended. She seemed a little upset, and I regreted hurting her feeling. Why? I was supposed to do that every now and then, wasn't I? I shouldn't care as long as it helped her in the long run.

If only I knew.

We finished, and when I checked her time, she'd cut down two minutes. I was extremely proud, and then a thought slipped into my head. What if she did better because of me? Could she actually care what I thought? But i got angry at the thought, wishing that I hadn't thought it. Of course she would look up to me some, I was older. Seven years. Which is why I shouldn't have had that thought.

"Not bad, huh?" she said, praising herself. " Looks like i could have gotten as far as the limited before the Strigoi got me at the mall. not sure how Lissa would do."

Then, thinking I sould praise her good work as well, i said," If she was with you, she'd be ok."

She looked at me in surprise. I was anmused, and proud. But why was she looking at me like that? I'd told her good things before, right? No, I hadn't. So now I was complimenting her?

Just great. I did not need to start being all warm and fuzzy now, not after the years I've worked to become something resembling a wall, to not show my feelings or my thoughts. So why was it happening. That was the last thought I had before Rose practically fell back, looking like she was in pain. She retaliated, and took off running without saying anything. I thought she was joking, but none the less, just incase, I ran after her. I was catching up to her, asking her what was wrong or if everything was ok, waiting for her to turn around and laugh so i could be relieved.

But I knew it wasn't a joke, so there was definately something wrong. When Rose ran up to Valissa, my point was proved.

"What happened? Whats wrong?" Rose said, Feirce and ready to kill, yet concerned at the same time. Valissa threw herself at Rose, crying steadily. I wanted to do something, but All i could do was hover around them, ready for an attack.

Later on, we were all inside Valissa's dorm, who She shared with Prince Dashkovs's daughter. I searched the room for anythreats and found-

A fox on Valissas bed, completely normal looking except its throat had been slit. I looked at it in disgust, wondering who would be sick enough to do that to such a sweet girl. If this was some kind of joke, then who ever did it should be punished horribly. Just wait until I found out who.

But for now there was nothing to do, and I sat tight while the girls talked in whispers. i didn't think to stop them, the tought that they were going top sneak out again didn't really occur to me. I was just to busy wondering about why. Why would some one do this? And how did anyone get in? it was just to suspicious.

I was told to walk Rose back to the novices, and I askied her about what she knew.

"I don't know anything. It's just someone sick joke."

"Do you have any idea who did it? Or why?' i asked voicing my ealrier questions.

After a moment, she said,"No. No clue." I sensed ther was more to it than that.

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

Then I was told how I should let her fight, how she wanted to learn. When she finished, i told her,

"Come on. You're late for practice." And walked her to her class, then leaving her until later on that day.