CHAPTER EIGHT- UNEXPECTED
Hey there, this is chapter eight obviously, and so yeah. I really feel like putting music into my story, so there'll probably be some lyrics in here. This chapter is all about surprising Rose, one is just fun and games and the other is a "No fucking way, that is so not right." type of surprise. So enjoy this chapter, I really hated writing the last chapter because it was so boring, nothing really happened, but if you ask some of my friends who like to write, they tease me about taking too much time to build up to the punch lines in my story and they also tease about how I make things so dramatic. But I love drama; the first part of the story isn't really dramatic – yet – ha, anyway… I'll let you read the story now
I fixed on a polite poker-face before I knocked on the headmistress's door. I was still pissed at Dereck, but that didn't mean I could take it out on her.
"Come in," I opened the door and the headmistress smiled up at me. "Guardian Hathaway, it's good to see you. What can I help you with?" she said pleasantly.
"I never got your name," I grinned falsely. She didn't seem to notice anything amiss and laughed.
"Headmistress Modia,"
"Headmistress Modia," I nodded. "That's not why I came, though. I came to ask your permission to take Dereck Hays off campus for an exercise. A very important lesson," I said politely, smile still in place.
"Ah, yes, Mr Hays, you need permission to take him off campus?" she asked raising her eyebrows.
"And to excuse him from his classes for the day," I added. I watched Headmistress Modia think this over. She seemed impressed that I was dedicated to my task. She might think differently of me if she knew why I was asking for the okay…
"Do you need an extra guardian?"
"No, that wouldn't be necessary; I wouldn't want to disturb anyone. It's okay, it will be no problem." I said quickly.
"Well, you seem so sure of yourself Guardian Hathaway. I give you my permission, of course…but, Guardian Hathaway, I'm surprised at you. Don't you find Mr Hays rather…difficult?"
I smiled tightly. "He's not that much from what I used to be; now I know how my mentor must have felt." Headmistress Modia laughed and I was only capable of a hard chuckle. "Thank you, Headmistress," I nodded as I inched towards the door.
"Not a problem, Guardian Hathaway. I'll have someone notify Mr Hays' teachers." She said, smiling at me kindly again before I slipped out of her office. I quickly made my way back to my room and grabbed the stake (I'd taken from Blake after we got back) before I headed to the gym to collect my little student.
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When I got to the gym, I found Dereck in the middle of a sparring match, so I waited in the corner and watched. He was a fairly good fighter, matched with the other boy, I vaguely recognized as the boy who was sparring with him before, when I'd come with Mikhail yesterday.
I heard him the moment before he jumped me and I had no time to react. Someone had me in a headlock from behind and I jabbed my elbow back automatically into their rib cage, not hard enough to do damage, but enough for them to loosen their grip.
I spun around to see Mikhail.
Of course.
"Let's fight, Hathaway; don't go easy and show me what you've got." He challenged and I grinned at him.
"Gladly," I responded the second before I launched myself at him. Too bad he threw himself at me at the same time. We clashed into each other at full force and collapsed onto the ground. Mikhail had landed on top of me so he had the upper hand; but I didn't let that get me down. I struggled until his grip on one of my arms slipped and my fist snaked out and connected with his face. I felt him flinch and I rolled so that I was on top of him instead.
"Are we doing face shots?" I panted.
"Of course, we're fighting, Hathaway." His breath was as heavy as mine. Somehow he managed to get his knee high enough to make contact with the center of my back.
"Damn, Tanner," I hissed and he grinned predatorily. I rolled off him and lightly jumped to my feet, ready for anything. Mikhail was quick to his feet as well, and this time, he took offensive. I blocked most of his attack with my body, but the impact still made me stumble; and that was all he needed. He pounced, looking completely sure of himself, so he was surprised when I got my right leg up and pushed back against his chest, making him stumble. Ha. I rolled backwards and we circled each other: both our fists were clenched as we danced around each other on our toes. I was acutely aware that my ribs were throbbing and hurt like hell, but that thought quickly fled as Mikhail made his move first, but I was ready for it this time and I planted my feet, leaning forward.
This time, I didn't budge and gripped Mikhail's shirt and swung him up against the wall. My left forearm was pressed to his neck, my right arm holding down his left arm and the rest of my body pinning his exactly.
"I win." I breathed and Mikhail and I both burst out laughing. I released my hold on him and stepped away; I suddenly became aware of my surroundings again. Mikhail and I had made it all the way across the gym and all the novices were loosely gathered in a circle around us and they were clapping. It surprised me; I got lost in my fight and wasn't paying attention. Now that I became aware of my condition as well: my ribs and right leg were aching and aching bad. I'm sure the pain only added to the surprised expression on my face, so it probably looked really funny – which is probably why Mikhail laughed harder.
"Bravo, Hathaway, not bad at all," he praised.
"'Not bad?' What are you talking about? I just kicked your ass. That was freaking amazing! And even with two broken ribs and a banged up leg." I joked as Tanner put his arm around my shoulders and turned to the novices.
"Guys, for those of you who don't know who my friend is: this is Guardian Hathaway." Mikhail announced and I gave him an annoyed sidelong glance as the novices who hadn't known who I was (which was the whole class minus Dereck) burst into whispers. Mikhail only grinned in response. I couldn't make out all of what they were saying, but I heard a few:
"Rosemarie Hathaway?"
"- best guardian ever!"
"- killed two Strigoi in Spokane!"
Then, finally, one person spoke above everyone else to me- it was the only way he could be heard.
"Guardian Hathaway as in the Rosemarie Hathaway from Montana?" he yelled pushing his way to the front of the small crowd. He had dark brown hair and dark, dark brown eyes. Eyes that were almost black. Eyes that I would know anywhere. They were Dimitri's eyes. I tensed and swallowed.
"Yes, and who might you be?" I asked tightly.
"Kevin Belikov," Belikov. No. No way, this is not happening. Dimitri would have told me about a brother…wouldn't he? He told me about his sisters, but hadn't spoken of a brother. Could he have not known? I was positive Dimitri would know if he had a brother. He'd have –
"Rose?" Tanner's voice brought me back to reality.
"Huh? Oh, what?" I said brilliantly.
"You've got some questions," he grinned, nodding toward the cluster of novices converging on us now.
"Um, okay, one at a time," I stuttered; I'd gotten used to not attracting attention in the past few months. "Ladies first, let's start with you." I pointed to a brunette to my right who was practically glowing; she looked like she'd explode just because I'd picked her.
"Is it true you killed two Strigoi in Spokane?" she squeaked.
"Yes," I answered and pointed to the next novice distractedly. Even though my mouth was with the questions and I was acting calm, my mind was still with the Belikov boy. Tanner, sensing my discomfort, told them to go to their next class and that they'd be able to talk to me later. They looked disappointed, but didn't refuse his order.
"Kevin!" I yelled after the crowd and the boy turned around with some of his friends. I noticed that his friends included, Dereck, the boy Dereck was sparring with, two other boys and two girls. Hmm, I didn't want all these people to see my reaction to the answer I was sure to get. I saw Dereck's eyes widen as I jogged up to him and his friends. I stared into Kevin's eyes, those eyes…it hurt – a lot. But I sucked it up and asked the question I already knew the answer.
"Do you have an older brother?" I held my breath as I watched his face fall.
"Yeah, but he died in a battle at an academy." I closed my eyes and turned my face slightly, hoping that they couldn't see my face twist in pain.
"My academy – his name was Dimitri Belikov, was it not?" I murmured. I hung my head as I waited for his answer,
"Yeah, how did you know?" I glanced up and saw that he looked astonished.
"Your brother was a great name, a very, very great man." I whispered before turned and walking stiffly out the door. As soon as the door closed, I bolted. To God knows where but I really didn't care. I just needed to get the fuck away from there. I needed to think. Alone.
What do you think? That last bit was the unexpected part, if you didn't get the title. So yeah…tell me what you think and please, please review. Anyway, the next chapter is intense (action). Review. Please.
~Alice~