Hello folks! How are you all doing? I'll tell you – I'm not doing well at the moment. Caught a mean cold – it's nasty!

Thank you so much for your reviews again. They brighten my sick day!

So, onward with the next chapter, shall we? This is the longest I've ever written.

DISCLAIMER -: I do not own VA and its characters. They belong to Richelle Mead.

ENJOY!

"So," Dimitri started as soon as they exited the gym into the open lawns of the academy grounds, "How was it?"

"It was amazing!" Rose giggled almost skipping on her steps. Dimitri chuckled and pulled her by his side, tucking her in his arms. Rose blushed at the close proximity, but made no move to get away from his warm and taut body. Instead, she nuzzled a little into his chest, snaking her arms around his waist.

"You've got some real potential comrade," she said. "You gave me hard time."

Dimitri snorted. "You probably thought that you would pin me the moment I stepped into the ring!"

"Ah…well…yes. I might have," Rose admitted shyly as Dimitri chuckled at her honest admission. She was too adorable. And he loved her so much! He dropped a kiss in her hair. She smiled and sighed blissfully in his chest.

"Where did you learn all that anyway?" she asked after a moment or two of silence. It was the question she wanted to ask the very second the match ended, but they have been engaged in…ahem….other activities.

For a moroi who had started training just a few months ago, he demonstrated too much technique to be a beginner. His moves although had lacked proper strength, he made it up with his superior reflexes and technique. "Some of the moves….they were not from what they teach us at the academy."

"Uhm…No. They are not," he said a bit hesitantly.

"So….Where are they from?" Rose asked when he didn't say anything.

Dimitri took a deep breath. "Guardian Sokolov, my mother's guardian taught me and my sister Viktoria since we were eight and six."

It came as so much of a shock for Rose that she faltered in her steps, ready to fall down on her ass, if not for Dimitri's hands around her waist. "Wha…what?! You're joking, right?"

"Did I look like joking back in the gym?" he asked raising his eyebrow.

"Well, no…but," Rose couldn't find words to express her surprise. An eight year old moroi being given combat training, that too, of the royal lineage! It was fair to say it was totally unheard of!

"Yes, it's unusual," he said picking up their steps still wrapped around one another, "But my mother had us trained."

"Maybe it's none of my business, but do you mind me asking, why?"

"No, it's alright. You can ask." Dimitri said looking straight ahead of him. "My mother, Princess Olena, specializes in earth magic. She at the age of twenty one had a one on one with a Strigoi."

Rose gasped. A moroi rarely had a real encounter with a Strigoi. If they did, they usually ended up in heaven (or hell, for that matter).

"Yeah, it was pretty bad. I don't know much, but she didn't have her guardian with her. She was frozen on the ground, unable to even comprehend the situation. The Strigoi started taunting her and it was then she broke out of her trance, only to have the Strigoi pounce at her. She fell into the ground and suddenly an idea struck her. She started to rock the ground, creating a mini earthquake, epicenter being the monster. She knew she couldn't hold any longer, so she started a rock shower on the Strigoi, using the momentary distraction to call her Guardian. Luckily he was near and arrived fast, staked the Strigoi and brought her back home."

Rose was in awe as she listened to each and every Russian laced words coming out of his mouth. She had never expected this act of bravery from a moroi. Seeing a Strigoi for the first time and surviving the encounter on one's own will, it was remarkable!

"She was quite shaken after that. But she decided she wouldn't feel helpless no more. She started the movement for moroi offensive magic problem. It was actually because of her they passed the law this year," Dimitri said proudly.

"That's very brave. She must be something," Rose said seeing the happy smile on her Russian God's face.

"You are very brave." she added seeing his smile grow. He bared his fangs playfully at her, making her laugh hard.

"So your mom specializes in Earth and you in water, that's a new thing. Generally family members share the same element. What does Viktoria specialize in?" Rose asked. They were sitting on a bench outside the female moroi dormitories now.

The always confident Dimitri stumbled in his words at the supposedly innocent question. How was he to answer that? He knew Rose wouldn't judge but could he bring himself to tell her?

Of course you are! His mind said. This is Rose, not some stuck up moroi chick that would make fun of the situation. Rose is sensible, she would understand.

Yes she would, he said in his mind. He could trust her. He could tell her.

"Viktoria, my baby sister is a little different….."

'aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh.' A sharp voice pierced through the air effectively cutting off Dimitri's explanation. Rose's eyes widened as she recognized the voice.

"Lissa…." she whispered taking off towards the moroi dormitories without a word to Dimitri.

Blood.

Blood.

So much blood.

This was the only thing Lissa could see when she opened the door of her room after a tiresome day at the library. She had imagined coming back to her soft bed, to rest her stressful day away but all she came to was her bed sheets soaked in crimson, the coppery stench of blood in the air rather than her Lily room freshener and a twitching fox instead of her fluffy teddy bear. She couldn't understand what was happening. A small shriek escaped her lips.

The same hot and cold sensation started rolling through her body, making her more queasy than happy like it did the last time. She came near the edge of her bed seeing the animal suffer with her wide eyes filled with tear. She hovered a hand above its slit throat, hoping to do what she did last time. But alas! When last time the raven had surged to life, the fox stopped twitching.

A few tears escaped her eye as she let the scene settle in her mind. There, in her room, in her bed, was lying a fox, throat slit, at the brink of death. Her nose couldn't handle the smell anymore. Nausea hit her hard and she puked her guts out on the floor.

"aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh" she screamed at the sight again, not knowing what to do. She was on the verge of passing out when a she heard the sound of footfalls screeching.

Rose was never so scared before. Her palms were sweating as she ran as fast as she could to reach the dorm room in the second floor. Her only thoughts consisted of how she had failed Lissa, how she had failed her best friend and sister. She always looked after her; she was her guardian for crying out loud! The shriek, it was not just sort of her over – exaggerated exclamation when Lissa sees a new dress or some awesome heels, it was one of fright. Lissa was scared. Something was wrong with her. Rose should be there, she has to protect Lissa, this thought pushed her faster and she came to a screeching halt in front of Lissa's room.

In the mean time, Rose had imagined every scenario of what could be going on with her. She had imagined strigois; she had imagined a man with guns, pointing it at Lissa; or a group to teenage girls bullying her, but what she came to, she couldn't have imagined it in her wildest dreams. The door was wide open and the bed was in complete view. She was aware that Dimitri was somewhere behind her, taking the scene with disgust, but she couldn't notice him. All she could see was a dead fox lying on the bed.

The fox was rested on the pillow. Its coat was reddish – orange, tinged in white. It looked so soft and cuddly that it could have been a pet, perhaps a cat, something you would hold in your arms and snuggle with.

Aside from the fact that its throat had been slit.

The inside of the throat looked pink and jelly like. Blood stained that soft coat and had run down into the yellow bedspread, forming a dark pool that spread across the fabric. The fox's eyes stared upward, glazed over with a sort of shocked look about them, like the fox couldn't believe this was happening. Nausea built up in her stomach, but she forced herself to keep looking. She couldn't afford to be squeamish.

"Roza," Dimitri nudged her pointing at Lissa.

What had happened to the fox was sick and twisted, obviously done by someone too fucked up for words. Lissa stared at it, he face death – pale, and took a few steps toward it, hand involuntarily reaching out. The gross act had hit her hard, Rose knew, digging at her love for animals.

"Liss," Rose said entering the room filled with the stench of blood. "Lissa." But Lissa won't listen. She stared and stared and stared waiting for something to happen. Rose, for the love of god, couldn't understand what!

"Lissa," Rose touched her arm, hoping to snap her out of her daze.

It happened so fast that none of them had the time to react. As soon as Rose's hand made contact with Lissa's arm, she stood up and pushed Rose back with so much strength that she fell down hard on the floor.

"Get away from me, you bitch!"

It was her voice that hurt Rose more than her push. She looked at Lissa with confusion filling her features. What was wrong with her best friend?
"Ты сумасшедший?!" Dimitri yelled at Lissa, seeing her wild behavior.

"Rose, baby. Are you alright?" he asked helping her up on her feet. Rose was still confused.

"Lissa, what's wrong?" Rose said, ignoring Dimitri at the moment. It seemed as seeing Dimitri concerned about Rose bothered Lissa to another level. "Liss, it's me – Rose."

Lissa's breathing increased and she started shaking. She started shaking violently. She clutched her chest hoping for the pain to go away.

"Oh my god, Lissa!"

Lissa shrieked as she saw Rose approach her. She backed away from her. "Dimitri, do something. Please!" Rose pleaded seeing her best friend in pain. Dimitri had no idea what was going on with his best friend's girlfriend. Seeing Lissa act violently to Rose's touch, he decided it was best she stayed away from her.

"Milaya, Go call the matron and Alberta and alert some Guardians. I'll try and handle her." he advised a still shocked Rose. Never in her life had she imagined Lissa hating her, but the way she was acting now, screamed hatred. What was worse that she didn't even know the reason of her outburst. Sure she had been absent lately, but that couldn't be enough to make her best friend hate her, right? There were so many questions swirling around her head but she couldn't have any answer now. So she decided it was best to listen to her comrade at the moment. She nodded, a few tears falling from her eye before she wiped them violently.

"And inform Christian too, we may need him."

With that, she retreated to the corner of the room to make the necessary calls, all the while watching Dimitri approach her scared friend.

"Lissa," Dimitri's honey - like voice floated through the air as he slowly approached the aforementioned person. His voice was calm and soothing, one that you would use for calming down a scared animal. It seemed to have worked because Lissa stopped shaking and looked up to meet his eyes.

'So beautiful!' Was the first thing registered in Lissa's mind as she looked up to see the most beautiful pair of chocolate brown eyes she had ever seen! Dimitri's voice wrapped her around like velvet, his accent making his words irresistibly sexy. He had his hands up in the air as he came near her ensuring he meant no harm. Lissa studied the contours of his face, high cheek bones with a straight strong nose and chiseled jaw line; he looked the epitome of perfect man. How had she not noticed how handsome he was before then?

Because, it wasn't yours to notice! Her mind replied. You're in love with Christian!

"You'll be alright." Dimitri said, squatting in front of her huddled form. He gently placed his hands to hers in a reassuring manner.

A sharp wave of electricity shot through his arms as soon as he touched her skin. It was nothing like the soft tingle of sparks he felt Rose touched him or kissed him, it was like when you touch a naked electric wire with your wet hands and he didn't like it one bit.

On the other hand, Lissa had felt alive when he touched her. Nothing the sort she had ever felt with Christian. It was warm and inviting and she wanted to feel it again. She threw her arms around Dimitri's neck, holding him close and relishing in the sense of security it brought to her.

Dimitri stiffened at the contact. He wasn't a stranger to a woman's body pressed against his but the way Lissa held him seemed highly intimate and improper. He could feel Lissa breathing in his scent on his neck.

It felt wonderful when Rose did it, but with Lissa, he felt nauseous. He wanted to push her away, but it seemed that she was in no mood of letting go of him.

Rose saw all the exchange in front of her eyes. She saw the way Lissa dissolved into Dimitri's touch while scrambling away from hers. Tears filled her eyes as she saw her breathing in Dimitri's scent. What was wrong with her? Why was she acting so..so…strange?!

"Where's Lissa?" Christian's voice boomed throughout the corridor as he burst into the room, Alberta and few Guardians on his tail. Seeing her girlfriend wrapped around his best friend sure unnerved him but he wanted to understand the situation right now. Dimitri jumped and thanked the heavens a million time at the interruption.

Christian rushed to Lissa, scooping her in his arms. Lissa returned his embrace albeit a little reluctantly. Rose almost cried out loud as she saw Christian soothing Lissa. She even responded to him positively!

Tears blurred her vision as she ran away from the room, no longer able to handle the scene and smell in there. She ran and ran and ran till she was outside in the open air. It was nearing dawn but there was still dark outside. She took a few calming breaths to control her emotions. She told herself that it was just because Lissa was in shock that she acted like that. She took a few more breaths, pacing on the grass to calm herself down when she heard his voice.

"Roza," Dimitri had followed her outside to see if she was okay. One look at her and he knew she was not. He walked towards her slowly. She had still not stopped her pacing.

"Roza, stop." he said. She didn't listen. "Rose!"

He caught her wrist and pulled her towards himself, making her stagger on her steps. She put her hands flat on his chest to steady her and looked up to see his face.

Without any warning, he crashed his lips to her, kissing her passionately. Rose was too stunned to respond to his passion. She was pacing just few moments ago, battling with her inner turmoil and now she was pressed against her Russian God kissing the daylights out of her!

Oh lord! He's kissing me! She shrieked in her head. Dimitri's kissing me! He has his lips on mine and is moving them…

'oh shut it!' her brain screamed at her. 'Focus!'

With that Rose got lost in the depths of passion with her Dimitri. She moved her hands and wound them around his neck, pulling herself up. Their lips molded against each other perfectly and in complete sync. One of his hands moved down to her waist while the other slipped through her neck to cup her face. They kissed and kissed and kissed and kissed, moving their tongues, battling for dominance. None of them could get enough of it! Their scents assaulted the others senses, overwhelming their response.

The scene was forgotten, the surroundings forgotten, the only thing known to Rose and Dimitri were the sparks of heat flowing through them as their bodies desperately tried to get close to the other. Dimitri took a step forward, making Rose stagger backwards but none of them broke the kiss. He took few more steps, until Rose's back collided against something hard. A wall probably or a tree, who cares!

Dimitri pushed his hand to cup her ass, moving all the way down to her thigh, hitching her up. She got what he wanted and wrapped her legs around his waist, helping him to hoist her upwards on the wall. He moved his lips to kiss her cheeks, trailing a fire of hot open mouthed kisses along her jaw to the slender line of her throat, sucking on her sweet spot. Rose doubled over in pleasure, moaning her approval embarrassingly loud.

Up until now, Dimitri thought that her laughter was the most beautiful sound he could ever hear. He was wrong, for nothing could match the moan she breathed out in pleasure. Frantic to get another reaction from her, her pushed her back forcefully and bit her bottom lip, earning himself another moan.

"Oh Roza," he whispered peppering kisses all over her face before returning to her lips, thrusting his tongue inside her mouth, dominating her. He groaned as her tongue caressed his sensually as she pushed her hips, grinding on his groin.

"If you two have stopped sucking each other's face, then you are required inside." A sarcastic voice called to them in darkness.

Dimitri grunted. "Go away, Christian," and resumed kissing Rose.

"Believe me, I've little to no interest in watching you two here. It's Lissa. They want to know everything from your point of view."

Hearing Lissa's name sobered them both and the broke the kiss, detangling their limbs. Rose was still out of breath and Dimitri was trying to calm his libido down.

"Give us a moment, we'll be there."

Christian nodded and went inside. Dimitri took a few deep breaths and looked at Rose. Still flushed and with wild her, she looked beautiful.

"Ready?" he asked her, his accent much thicker. Unable to form a coherent reply, Rose nodded slipping her hands into his, walking towards Lissa's room once again.

…so here you go.

It's confusing, I know. But it'll all be cleared in time. Just have patience with me and the story.

So they kissed finally! How did you like it? I hope I didn't disappoint anyone. There are some more intimate moments to follow, so heads up!

liked it? loved it? hated it?

Want me to write more? Want me to never write again? Whatever it is, please tell me in the reviews.

Love,

Lara.