I woke up Wednesday morning, pumped and ready to go. I looked at the clock to see I'd woken up an hour early, so I quickly got dressed and did my hair and make-up, before heading downstairs and out the back door to the track. I lined up with the fence and readied myself. I wanted to get my adrenaline going before I had to face Eddie, even though I knew I could take him out. I ran the track twice before I looked up to see Dimitri at the fence. When I made it back to him, he smiled.

"Good morning." He murmured. I was sweaty and out of breath, but I nodded.

"Morning."

"Getting yourself ready?" He asked me. I nodded.

"Trying to get myself pumped." He laughed.

"It's funny because Eddie's doing the same thing." I smiled and crossed my arms.

"He's concerned he's going to lose."

"He should be." Dimitri said, smirking. "I trained you."

"That's right." I said.

"One more week… and I'll be gone." I said, looking down at the ground. I'd agreed with myself that I wouldn't think about it until after this was over, but it was hitting me hard now. One more week left with Dimitri, and he'd be gone for a good four months. I shuddered.

"We're going to make it, alright?" He took my hand in his and squeezed it tight, being the reassurance I needed. "You need to focus on what's at hand right now, and that's kicking Castille's ass, like I've taught you."

"Okay." I nodded. "You're right. I'm sorry. I'm focused." I told him. He smiled and looked down at his watch.

"It's almost time, are you ready?" I just nodded once, and took a deep breath. Stealthily he leaned over, and pressed a quick kiss to my mouth. "Knock em' dead baby girl." He whispered. I met his gaze and nodded again.

"Duh." I muttered, as I followed him inside and to the gym. Everyone else was already inside, seated on the benches much like the day we arrived here, except… one was missing. I felt like someone had just punched me in the chest. Landon. I hadn't thought about him in awhile, since I was training for today, but God, after we became close, I always imagined our last week here together, how much fun we'd have, how hard it would be to say goodbye, but I didn't get that privilege. I'd stopped right in the middle of the gym, my heart pounding in my chest now, my breathing shallow. Dimitri turned to me, and his eyes went wide.

"Rose… what is it?" He asked.

"I… I uhm… I just need a second." I murmured, before walking out and into the foyer. I laid my head against the wall, taking deep breaths, trying to calm myself down. "Just breath, Rose." I whispered.

"Rose, what is it?" Dimitri asked, his hand on my back.

"Nothing… I just-." I stopped, and shook my head, trying to prevent tears from falling down my face. I wouldn't cry, not today. "One of us is missing." I finally said. He fell silent.

"Landon." He murmured. I nodded.

"It just hit me hard that we were all here like we were the first day here… but he isn't. I just didn't-." Dimitri grabbed my shoulder, and turned me around to look at him.

"Rose, do you have any idea, any idea at all of how proud he would be of you today? That you made it this far? That you've done everything you set out to do here? That boy idolized you. He'd be so proud." He told me.

"I wanted to be able to share this day with him, this week with him. I wanted to be able to say good-bye to him." I murmured.

"We all did, but in our profession things like this happen. You know that. Rose, he's gone. I'm sorry I have to be so blunt, but it's true. The only thing you can do for him now is continue to make him proud. He'd hate to see you like this over him." I took a deep breath, and nodded.

"You're right. You're right. I'm fine." I stood up straight, and looked up at him. "Thank you." He pulled me into his arms, and held me for a moment before he released me, and we walked back into the gym. I took my seat on the bench. The guardians began speaking, first Dimitri.

"Congratulations to all of you for making it this far. You've all worked very hard to get to this point, and on behalf of all of us here, we'd like to say thank you for being an amazing group of kids, and an even better group of fighters. You guys have worked very hard to get to this point, and you've done it in a flawless and professional manner. Each and every one of you has turned into amazing Guardians. I could care less that none of you have been promised, each and every one of you have risen to Guardian status, which is exactly what we were trying to accomplish here." He said. His eyes landed on me then, as he spoke the next words. "It's going to be hard to let you go." I felt tears well to my eyes, but I quickly blinked them back. Eddie then stepped forward.

"Guardian Belikov is right. You guys have been amazing to work with. It's been amazing watching each and every one of you grow. I remember watching each and every one of you on intro day, and thinking to myself "oh boy, this should be interesting" but once again, you each proved to me how amazing of fighters you could be. I can't wait to watch all of you today to see how much you've grown. So let's get started, shall we?" He called one of the other two girls up, and paired them up with the Guardian they'd fought on introduction day. The first few that were called up won, which surprised me. I hadn't seen any of the others train a lot since I was always outside. They were right about how much they've grown though. Glenn was called up, and Eddie stepped forward. I raised an eyebrow, confused. I thought Eddie was going to be the one I fought. I was confused, as I watched them fight. I looked at Dimitri, and he shrugged. He obviously didn't understand either. He took the clipboard from the guardian and he narrowed his eyes slightly. Oh shit. I watched as Eddie pinned Glenn, and placed a hand over his chest. Glenn had lost. I couldn't help but giggle to myself. Eddie stood, and took the clip board back.

"Rose…" I stood up, and walked over to the mat. I heard the door open, and looked up to see Guardian Young standing in the doorway. I narrowed my eyes at Eddie. Fucker. Regardless, I smiled at Guardian Young as he approached. He stepped onto the mat, and raised an eyebrow at me.

"How've you been Hathaway?" He asked.

"Oh don't even try to psych me out, Guardian Young." I said, smirking at him. This wasn't for fun anymore. This was serious and I had to win. I crouched down, and so did he. I then waited on his first move. When he hesitated, I went in throwing a kick to his ribs, but he deflected most of it. He tried to pull my legs out from under me, but I swung, causing him to step back. He circled again, before he lunged, me faking him out and giving him a hard kick to the back of the knees. He stumbled forward, but didn't fall. It was becoming obvious now that Landon's amazing balance in battle had been taught by Guardian Young. My heart jumped, but I didn't let it stop me. He recovered quickly, and moved back in on me. I caught a swift punch to the face, causing everyone else to wince. I didn't even feel it. My adrenaline was pumping so much I lunged at him, taking him to the mat. I let out a fury of punches, hitting him everywhere I could, trying to fight to get to his chest. He was swift, and good at blocking. He rolled us, putting me on my back. I fought against him, pushing him off me, and fighting my way to my feet. We stared at each other, smiling like idiots. This was going to take awhile, and we knew it. We lunged back in for each other, him missing me completely. I kicked his feet out from under him, and laughed as he hit the mat. I didn't even bother going after him. I just watched as he stood and turned around to glare at me. I smirked and crouched down, serious this time. I was going to end this. He lunged forward, and this time I didn't move. I deflected most of his hits but he swung one that I didn't have time to deflect and I took it right to the eye. I cussed and stumbled back, but I still didn't let it stop me. I kicked him hard in the stomach, and used his 2 second hesitation to slam the palm of my hand right into his chest and hold it there.

"Dead." I said, out of breath. He stood there, staring at me, both of us worn out.

"That was amazing, Rose." He told me. I just nodded, not sure I could say anything. "Are you okay?"

"I'm… I'm okay." I stuttered. The adrenaline was slowly fading now, and I was starting to feel everything. I looked at Guardian Young, and smiled. "If Landon were still here, he would have been just as good as you. You're an amazing fighter and an amazing Guardian." I said, not sure where it had come from. Guardian Young's face went somber for a second, before smiling slightly.

"Thank you, Rose." He stepped forward and wrapped an arm around my waist before kissing my forehead. "I wish you the best in everything." He turned and nodded to Eddie and Dimitri before he walked out. I stood on the mat, feeling battered and broken. Dimitri approached me.

"Are you okay, Rose?"

"I'm… I'm fine." I tried to walk back over to the bench and my knees gave. He caught me and scooped me up into his arms, placing me on the bench.

"Rose… hey, look at me?" Dimitri asked. I didn't know what was wrong with me. The strain on my body from sparring with him was something I'd never felt before. I looked up at him. "What's wrong? Do you feel dizzy, light headed?" He asked.

"I feel… tired." I mumbled, my voice barely audible. He reached up and touched my left eye, causing me to flinch.

"It's bruising. I'm going to get you some ice, are you going to be okay?" He asked. I nodded.

"I don't need ice… I'll be fine, Dimitri." I said, waving him off. He narrowed his eyes.

"Eddie, keep an eye on her." He said, as he jumped up and started out of the gym. All eyes were on me, probably because I looked pretty damn rough and fought harder than most of them did.

"Why didn't I fight you, Eddie?" I mumbled. "You were who I fought on intro day."

"Guardian Young wanted the privilege, so I gave it to him." He said. Guardian Young had wanted to fight me? I just shook my head. Of course he did. After everything with Landon, him being my trial guardian was his way of seeing me off and making sure I was ready, for Landon. I couldn't help but smile. Dimitri returned with my bag of ice and placed it on my eye, before kneeling down in front of me.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"You worry too much, mom. I'm fine." I grumbled. He rolled his eyes and stood up. He walked out onto the center of the floor, calling everyone to attention.

"You guys have done absolutely amazing today, and it's so good to see how you've grown. Every one of you has now completed the course here and will be sent back to your academy next Wednesday. If you'd like to continue you're training until then, you may but this is a time for you to say good-bye to your friends, your mentors, and get ready to head back to school to finish up your training before graduation. It's been an honor and a privilege for each of us to work with all of you. As of now, training is closed." Dimitri said. They all screamed and cheered and clapped, and jumped up and hugged each other. I stood up, going to head upstairs, when Glenn stopped in front of me, and extended a hand.

"Hathaway.." He said. I stared at his hand, thinking about snapping off his wrist, but I just smiled.

"You've put me through hell, Glenn. Leaving on good terms with you, isn't exactly on my bucket list. Sorry." I pushed his hand out of the way and walked out and upstairs to my room. The moment I was inside, I collapsed onto the bed, my entire body aching and sore. Damn Guardian Young. I finally pulled myself out of my bed to look in the mirror. My eye was turning black and swollen. I groaned at how disgusting it looked. I grabbed a change of clothes and walked into the bathroom, showering. It made me feel slightly better. When I walked out, I jumped because Dimitri was lying in my bed.

"What are you doing? They might-." He shook his head.

"They are going to suspect anything. You were injured. As your mentor it's my duty to check on you." He informed me. I rolled my eyes as I threw my dirty clothes on the floor. He sat up and motioned for me to come to him. I walked to him, as he pulled me close. "Your eye looks horrible, Roza."

"Thanks so much, comrade." I muttered. He chuckled and hugged my waist.

"You did amazing. Just like I taught you. You even pissed him off a little bit by laughing at him. It was entertaining to watch." He informed me. I smirked and ran a hand through his hair.

"I was worried I was going to lose."

"I knew better." Dimitri told me, pressing a kiss to my stomach, which was eye level from where he sat and I stood. I lifted my shirt to reveal the battle marks from today. "He's one hell of a fighter."

"I know. Landon was learning from him." I murmured. Dimitri just nodded. "I'm hungry… I think I'm going to go downstairs and get something to eat. Stay here." I told him.

"Are you sure you're going to-." I cut him off with a look and he instantly shut up.

"I'll be back." I said. I walked out of the room and downstairs towards the kitchen when I heard someone scream from outside. My stomach stirred and I instantly felt sick. Shit.

"Dimitri." I screamed, before running for the door. It was in that moment I realized I was defenseless against whatever was outside. I ran straight through Dimitri's door and grabbed one of the stakes out of his drawer before hauling ass towards the door. The moment I stepped outside, my heart stopped. There in front of Diana was a line of four strigoi; one of them with his arms around Glenn's neck, a simple twitch could snap it.

"Ooo, what do we have here? Hathaway, I presume."

"You presume correct." I said, stepping in front of Diana and a few steps closer to them. "Let him go… You don't want him."

"Oh, but don't I?" He asked. I took a few steps closer, but he shook his head. "Come any closer, I'll rip his head from his shoulders." My hand with the stake, twitched. Just then, the door opened and Dimitri came running out. Distraction. I ran, dragging my stake across the strigoi's face, causing him to drop Glenn.

"Glenn, go." I screamed, taking the strigoi to the ground. The rest of them pounced on me, but then the rest of the novices and Guardians came running out. That's when all hell broke loose. A line of about fourteen more strigoi emerged from the forest.

"Fuck." I heard, Dimitri cuss. I averted my focus back to the strigoi, swinging a fury of punches to his face. He rolled me, putting himself on top of me, but I kicked him off, and got to my feet. He lunged back at me, but I swung a high kick, catching him dead in the face. With that, I drove my stake through his heart. He cried out, and dropped to the ground. I stomped it in further, before pulling it out and running back into the group of strigoi moving in on the estate. I was caught from behind, and turned to swing. I caught the strigoi across the face, and he pushed me back. I tried over a root, and fell. I quickly started moving back away from him.

"So helpless, Ms. Hathaway." He teased. He started to lunge at me, but someone took him out from the side. Dimitri drove his stake through his chest, and helped me up.

"Rose, get out of here."

"I'm not arguing with you now…" I said, turning from him and running back into the group. I helped Diana with the strigoi on her, and staked him from behind. When he hit the ground, her face filled with relief. I turned and started to help Eddie when someone caught my eye in the forest. I took two steps forward and realized I recognized him. No. It was the strigoi that had killed Landon. My blood went hot, and I almost lost my mind, standing right there.

"We meet again." He snarled.

"You… you fucking bastard. You killed him."

"Awe, are you talking about your little green eyed friend? What was his name? Brandon?" He chastised me.

"It was Landon…" I snarled. "And he's dead and it's your fault."

"If I heard correctly, you guys are the ones that killed him, not me. I created a better life for him, and you ended it." The strigoi said, simply. I started into the forest towards him.

"You'll pay for what you did to him."

"I doubt it." He blurred in front of me, and swung. I deflected it, the stake catching his skin as I moved out of his reach. He growled and cried out as I moved in on him, swinging and catching him hard in the face. He tried to move, but took the full force of the hit. He lunged at me, but I faked him out, kicking him hard. He batted me like a fly, throwing me back into the trees. I quickly forced myself to my feet before he got back to me. I shoved the stake into his face, listening to the skin sizzle as it connected. Once again, he shoved me off him, but I stayed on my feet. I ran back, as he cried out as the skin on his face melted away. I started to drive my stake through his heart when he wrapped his hands around my throat.

"You fucking bitch. You'll pay for what YOU did." He shoved my head aside, exposing my neck, and sank his teeth into my throat. I screamed at the top of my lungs, thrashing against him. I heard something hit him, and he threw me back, slamming me against a tree. My head slammed against the wood. I opened my eyes, seeing Dimitri grapple with the strigoi, but my vision was blurry. The endorphins were crashing through my veins now. I tried to get to my feet, to help him. I had to kill him. He turned Landon… but I kept falling. The last thing I heard was the strigoi snarl and Dimitri's voice extremely close to me.

"Roza… Roza… open your eyes, look at me." That was the last thing I heard before the blackness and endorphins swallowed me.

A/N: Gosh, it's been forever since I've updated this story. I'm super sorry guys. I kinda got into my Adrian/Rose story, and if you're not reading that because you're not exactly a fan of the Rose and Adrian pairing, I promise you'd like it. :D Alright, maybe I'm being slightly cocky, but if you're a fan of erotica of any kind, that's what it is. I think it's coming along pretty nicely. If you're a fan of Fifty Shades of Grey, that's kinda what inspired it. Give it a try, and I'll love you forever. Regardless, this story is coming to a close pretty soon. I'm guessing about maybe 5 or 6 more chapters, so we have to get this to 1,000 reviews really soon, so don't forget to review. Hell, review more than once. :D I love you guys, my readers. You rock, and I continue to write for you guys. When you start to tell me I suck, and I need to find a new hobby, I most certainly will. Anyways, review, check out Can You Keep A Secret? And continue to love me. ;)

-April