Chapter 3

The facts were laid out:

90 Strigoi breached the wards

Including 20 ancients

82 Strigoi killed

Of that 52 were mine- including 14 ancients

We had 4 dead guardians

2 dead Moroi

9 captured novices- 1 of which was Eddie

5 captured Moroi

2 captured guardians

The early warning and efficient lockdown was accredited as the reason for so few losses

And Dimitri and I were in a relationship

That last part was discussed to no end for easily 2 hours afterwards and it was agreed that while in guardian only situations we could be public.

The school reverted to human schedule and the sun was just barely up. All but 10 guardians were sent to the clinic then to sleep for 3 hours until the numbers were replenished. Dimitri never left my side and when I had the idea to check in with Mason he didn't argue and came to the gates with me I crossed the wards and called "Mason I need to check in with you. Help me find and rescue Eddie." He appeared before me and said "caves- 5 miles north. The cave in was cleared. 225 Strigoi still hiding- 50 ancients." "Thanks Mase" I said and let him go returning behind the wards and replaying it over to Dimitri. He was in action within a second not letting me leave his side the entire time. We were halfway to Alberta's office when I heard "Rosemarie" called with the ridiculous accent that could only signify my mother was around. "Mother" I returned and nodded when I spotted her. "Guardian Hathaway" Dimitri nodded to her from beside me. "Belikov" she returned.

"I assume you just arrived and are about to see Alberta" I stated.

"Correct."

"We were just about to see her and inform her of some new enlightenments, care to walk with us" Dimitri said always so polite.

"Dimitri" I held back a groan 'did you have to?' I added mentally.

'She's gonna find out anyway might as well get it over with'

'I hate it when you use normal logic and make sense'

'Same when you use your logic' he laughed

'You realise you just laughed out loud?' I mentally giggled

'Oh shit' he thought in Russian and I caught the translation and called him on it.

"No more not teaching me Russian Dimitri" I laughed out loud.

"It's Guardian Belikov, Rosemarie and why do I get the feeling I'm missed something here" my mother tried to chastise me.

"Because you are" Dimitri and I said in unison and Dimitri added "I prefer her calling me Dimitri Guardian Hathaway". We entered Alberta's office and told her the latest details and she had us onto Hans Croft, Head Guardian, on speaker within seconds asking us for my plan for a rescue mission. I was gobsmacked that they'd turned to me for leadership but quickly recovered. "I'm assuming with 225 Strigoi we're gonna need numbers- and lots. Assigning 2 per ancient that's 100 minimum, then another 1 per 3 Strigoi that's another 59. We'll leave 10 of the 80 academy guardians on campus so we need another 90 reinforcements. If there are fire or magic using Moroi teachers that wanna come we should have up to 20 of them too. And novices, the best 50 seniors from st vlads as back up at either entrance and to return to captured to campus with as much sunlight shining. I can sense the Strigoi and have a unique magic that allows me to paralyze them so I'm going in from second 1 and will stay through til the last is dead- orders to retreat or no. We need as much time as possible in the caves so reinforcements have to be here before 11am."

"Fine, consider it done" Hans said gruffly and hung up.

"How much time do you want in the caves Rose?" Alberta asked.

"5 hours absolute minimum but I'd prefer a minimum of 7."

"7 it is, we'll leave at noon and try to be back by 9, in at 1 out by 8."

"I hate the odds. We've never been up against these numbers before. If it weren't for how many I took out before and the fact so many are working together I wouldn't dare try." I was almost in tears by the end.

"Rose" Dimitri's voice was laced with emotion thickening his accent and I was powerless under it. I turned to face him and saw love, belief and absolute pride and confidence in his face and eyes. "You can get us through this- you're stronger than you think you are. I'm proud of how far you've come, how much you've matured. I have total faith, trust and belief in you."

"Dimitri" was all I said as I collapsed into his arms and cried. He held me and stroked my hair whispering "Roza" in my hair until I fell asleep in his arms.