CHAPTER FOUR

"All stand at attention for her Royal Highness, Queen Tatianna, the second of her name."

We all bow in unison until told to rise and fall into classic Guardian pose, feet shoulder width apart, posture perfect with our hands clasped in front of us. Doesn't feel the most natural but it's an old tradition, a sign of respect to not hide our hands and, in spirit, our intentions.

The Queen stands proud in the middle of a V formation made by her Guardians with two in the middle with her on her flanks, her Moroi entourage standing to the side.

Honestly, most Moroi kinda feel like if you've seen one you've seen them all and despite her grand dress that looks straight out of the 16th century, Queen Tatianna is no different. Tall and statuesque of Japanese and Swedish descent with black hair tied up in an elegant looking bun; she's gorgeous, doesn't look a day over 25 even though she's in her late thirties. She's one of the youngest Monarchs we've ever had, having taken the throne at 19 years old; and yes it was as controversial as it sounds.

The wart is gone I notice while appraising her, and chuckle in my own head. It takes everything in me to not crack a smile, although I'm sure my eyes are shining with humor, at least a little.

"Welcome, young novices. I've invited you here before you travel to St. Basils, to congratulate you on your great achievement. The dedication it takes to achieve what you have is admirable, every Guardian in this room was a part of the top 3 Novices once upon a time. I wish you all good fortune in your upcoming trials and I know you all will represent our nation well."

We all bow our heads in acknowledgement but don't say anything. Never talk to a Queen unless directly spoken to is a rule I learned the hard way. That last part rang very clear to all of us and any humor I felt vanished. I know a threat when I hear one.

"Safe travels."

We all bow deeply again and turn to exit the room, clearly having been dismissed.

Thank fucking god thats over; wasn't so bad.

"Novice Hathaway, a word."

Fu-u-u-uck

I stop dead in my tracks, pausing for a moment to make sure my expression isn't showing what I'm thinking and instead completely neutral.

I turn on my heels and return to my exact spot, bowing once more. Lissa's dad ever so slightly moves to stand more besides me, also anxious for what is to come.

"No need to protect the girl, Eric, I only want to congratulate her personally."

Eric bows his head and smiles at the Queen.

"Of course your highness, and I understand why, Rose being at the top of her class is quite impressive."

I don't think she meant to do it but she ever so slightly rolls her eyes before recovering her fake pleasant, queenly expression.

"Why, of course. It is quite the feat." She walks closer to me, her heels clacking and her large golden skirts swishing with every step. The Guardians at her flanks follow but the others hold their positions.

"You've come a long way, Novice Hathaway."

"Thank you, Your Grace."

Silence; thick and choking.

Her eyes narrow.

"Everyone leave us."

My eyes widen and a small crack in demeanor goes through her Guardians, the closest one to her taking on the risk of questioning her command.

"Your Highness-,"

"Do as I say. Novice Hathaway will not harm me and if a pack of Strigoi enters uninvited, well then, she's top of her class."

With great reluctance everyone listens, Eric included, and when the last person leaves the room, Queen Tatianna moves to the side of the grand room towards a bar cart and pours a glass of wine.

"You don't expect us to have a conversation with you standing all the way over there do you?" She snaps out and I slowly make my way over to her, stopping a respectable five feet away.

She sips on her wine, her back facing me.

"You know I was never able to replace the rug you ruined. It was one of a kind, the others felt like cheap imitations."

Taken aback, I struggle to find words. This is so freaking weird.

"Um, my . . . deepest apologies, Your Grace."

"You've always had a knack for that . . . you don't just ruin things a little, you alter them completely. You make going back or moving forward impossible. Everything has to be rebuilt and they're never the same. Like a plague."

What the actual fuck . . .

Now, I don't know if becoming a legal adult has magically made me more mature or if I've lost my spine but I don't say anything. I hold onto my anger and keep all my comebacks to myself.

"Say something, Rosemarie."

What the fuck could I possibly say to being called a plague?!

"I'm getting the sense you're not only referring to a rug."

"You would be right, Dhampir." My eyes tighten at the way she says Dhampir.

"I haven't the time to waste going into detail but I need to make myself very clear. Do not screw this up." Hearing the word screw coming from her hits my ears all kinds of wrong. "It is imperative that these trials go well. Your future and the future of many is very dependent on your performance in Russia."

That's freaking it, I can only hold my tongue for so long, but at least I know I still have my backbone.

"I heard your threat the first time," I say coldly.

Queen Tatianna smirks.

"Good. Leave."

I do as I'm told, gladly, biting my tongue so I don't say anything else stupid, but I don't bow. No fucking way is she getting that from me. As soon as I exit the War Room, her Guardians rush back in and Eric is waiting for me, a pitying, apologetic look on his face.

"I hope it wasn't too bad."

"Better than last time. I'm a plague instead of a blood whore."

Eric sighs, and grips my shoulder. "I'm sorry, Rose, her ire isn't your fault."

I almost bring up the rug incident, but just like in there . . . she wasn't talking about that. She said I ruin everything but other than that i've never done anything else to her to deserve her hatred. Actually, I was a fucking child when that happened, i've done nothing to deserve it.

"Why does she hate me?"

Eric sighs again, "Im not entirely sure, but trust me, Rose, it has nothing to do with you. Now forget about her and focus on what you are about to head into. There will be 50 of you all fighting for the same top spot. People you've never met, from different cultures, with different fighting styles. You are going to need to be prepared for anything. I've seen you fight, Rose, your innovation and quick thinking are your strongest attributes but it can also make you reckless. You need to hone the best parts of you and win."

Hearing him say I need to win for some reason catches me off guard. Of course I expected the 'give it your best' speech but the way he's saying I need to win sounds so desperate. Like if I don't, the world will end.

"What's going on, Eric?"

He looks away, collecting himself.

"I can't get into it here, Rose, but things are changing," He stares deep into my eyes, pleading with me to take him seriously, "something . . . is wrong, and I fear a war is brewing."

"What? With the Strigoi? Are they . . . attacking more? Grouping together?" I ask urgently, fear spiking through my spine and settling in my stomach. I may be top of my class but I've never fought a Strigoi before. I haven't even seen one in person.

Eric purses his lips and gives me another sad look.

"There are more enemies in this world than just the Strigoi, Rose."

I'm taken aback by his answer, but I stop myself from asking anything further due to the look in his eyes that makes me feel so young and inexperienced.

I've always just focused on being the best in my fighting classes, with the attitude of the Moroi control the politics, I don't need to worry myself with that backstabbing bullshit. Fighting is honest and straightforward and nothing else matters but becoming the best so I can protect Lissa. Now that highschool will be coming to an end soon and I'll be a part of the bullshit, I'm starting to regret not paying enough attention.

Not that I would have known there was a major discourse in the Moroi world necessarily, I mean being at an academy is very secluded, but still, I feel like I'm being spelled out something very obvious.

I nod at Lissa's dad, "I'll win."

He smiles and gives me another hug. "I know you will."

I left the Palace and headed to catch up with everyone at the shops in a complete daze. I've grown used to working under pressure but it's hard not to feel a little suffocated under the shroud of mystery these trials have now. Alberta said this was to foster good will and encouragement but it's starting to feel like I've entered into the Hunger Games.

Although if I'm being honest our society isn't too far off.

I catch up to Mason and Eddie as they're raiding through a Moroi version of a 7/11 and try to block the very unpleasant images in my mind.

Mason sees me and sighs in relief.

"Thank god, what happened? What did she say?"

I roll my eyes and start picking out my favorite snacks starting with chocolate bars.

"Basicaly not to fuck up and embarrass us."

I don't know why but I find myself cautious in telling them anything. I can barely make out the crazy warnings from The Queen and Lissa's dad and until I do I don't want to set anyone off. Especially young Dhamp guys itching to prove themselves.

We pay for our food and head out back to the tarmac on foot instead of the SUV's. We all need to stretch our legs before getting on a plane for the next, at least, 10 hours, no matter how nice and roomy it is.

"We need to fetch Mikhail, he went in here I think . . . wait," Eddie starts laughing hysterically, "Why the hell would he go into a nail salon?"

I look through the windows confused and see he's right, it is a salon.

"I'm so not going into a freaking nail salon," Eddie says with an ugly sneer on his face.

"Uh, yeah, me either!" Mason scoffs too.

I roll my eyes at them and call over my shoulder as I go in, something that I know will sting but hopefully will wake Mason up and to not be such a follower.

"This is why you're both still single."

I hear Mason make a choking sound and hopefully he gets a clue.

When I walk in, a Moroi receptionist stands from the front counter and asks me if I have an appointment.

"Uh, no, I'm looking for my friend Mikhail, we have a plane to catch."

Her eyes soften and she points me to the back. "He's with Rhonda, they should be finished up, go on ahead."

I thank her and head towards the back past rows of pedicure stations with the big massage chairs, wishing I had time to get one.

A small room appears on the side in the back with a thick layer of hanging beads acting as the door and I softly move some aside and clear my throat to make my presence known.

"Hey, sorry to interrupt but we need to get back on the pla-"

What I see stops me dead in my tracks.

Mikhail is sitting on the floor with an older Moroi woman and a table in between them and . . . tarot cards. Mikhail, one of the most no nonsense people you could ever meet, especially considering he's a teenager, is getting his cards read in the back of a salon. . .

"I think I would have been less shocked if you'd been getting a happy ending."

Mikhail gives me a very displeased look. "Very classy, Rose."

I snort, unable to help myself and he turns back to the woman. "I'm sorry, Aunt Rhonda, I promise, she's not my friend."

Aunt Rhonda, eh?

Aunt Rhonda smiles and looks at him tapping the cards, "Maybe she should be, hmm? You're too serious, Miki."

Mikhail rolls his eyes and stands up, gives his Aunt a kiss on the forehead and turns to me. "Come on, let's go."

I silently giggle and move out of his way but his Aunt stops us.

"Wait, maybe your should-be-friend would like a reading?"

"No, she doesn't deserve one, she's not a believer."

Usually I would agree but where's the fun in that?

"I would love one actually!" I plop down on the cushion Mikhail was sitting, uncomfortable about how warm he left it and watch as she collects his spread of cards and shuffles them with a smile on her face. Mikhail sighs and leaves, the beads clacking behind him.

Dang it, I thought I could poke more fun at him but he left so I turn back to his Aunt.

"Actually, he's right, I'm not a believer, I don't want to waste your time." I move to stand back up but she points a finger at me telling me to sit, her bangles making clacking sounds.

"I love a good challenge."

I snort but let her continue on.

"Fine, but I'm expecting you to know stuff no one else knows about me and nothing vague, capisce?"

She smiles at me and keeps shuffling. "Nothing too vague, will that suffice?"

I purse my lips but agree.

"Good, we'll look at your past first so I can see all of your secrets and you'll believe I'm not a charlatan."

I smile and nod my head.

She flips over three cards, they're large and the art is very gothic and hard for me to make out. I can tell this is a well used and well loved deck and not something she picked up at Target.

"Hmm, your sense of self is so strong but so shaky at the same time. You know who you are but a part of you has a hard time accepting it. You want more from this world than what it currently has to offer you. Being a young Dhampir woman this is probably not shocking to hear but . . . yours is different. You've always felt you were meant for more, but feel guilty for thinking so."

Well shit.

I don't say anything, keeping my expression as calm as I can. She may not be Royal but she's still Moroi and Dhampirs wanting something other than to be meat shields is very taboo.

Rhonda smiles at me. "I feel your energy, Rose, you are meant for more and you shouldn't feel bad for not wanting to be a footnote."

I gaze snaps to hers and I stare wide-eyed into her hazel eyes, but still don't say anything and she smiles again with a wink.

It was the exact word I had used to describe myself not even ten hours ago. A footnote.

I settle further into the cushion and she lays down more cards.

She hums softly to herself and analyzes them for a long moment.

"I know this is going to sound cliche, but I see greatness in you. Greatness in skill, in love and in pain. There is no inbetween with you, it's all or nothing." She lays down three more cards, one I do recognize and she smiles and gives me a wink.

"The lovers card can mean many things but in this reading it means what you think it does. I'm aware from my nephew you are all going to Russia, so I've refrained from saying you'll be going on a grand adventure but this," She taps a long red nail to the card of the nude embracing couple, "is clear. You'll find your lover, your other half, and you would be a fool to not embrace it, because this," She taps another card which I'm guessing from the big ass grim reaper is the death card, "means nothing lasts forever."

"I'm going to die? Or is he?" I ask breathlessly.

She smiles kindly at me but there's an edge to it, "The death card usually doesn't mean actual death, but change. We are constantly changing and like I said nothing lasts forever."

She places down three more cards.

"I feel his energy," She closes her eyes and breathes in deeply, seemingly getting lost in it, "Very masculine but very gentle as well and . . . it's hard to explain . . . capable, he will guide you and you him but only if you let yourself trust, there are so many shadows surrounding you and you will gain even more but you are the only light you need."

She pauses for a second, another card in her hand that she moves to place down but seems to second guess herself.

"What's wrong?" I ask, eyeing the mystery card.

She purses her lips and lets go of the edge of the card.

"My guides are telling me to not be greedy, sometimes it's hard when someone has such an . . . overwhelmingly interesting reading, but I know even if I lay the card down they won't tell me anymore."

My shoulders hunch in disappointment. I want to know more! Particularly about the guy I will meet, if I'm being honest with myself.

"There's nothing else you can tell me?"

"I feel it bears repeating, you're not a woman of "in-between" even when it's forced upon you. Your highs will be just as great as your lows and you will face life altering challenges but you must persevere and follow your own light."

She breaks out into a giant, sultry smile that makes her look ten years younger and taps the lovers card again, "And just a little advice, woman to woman, don't let this man go!"

I grin and lean forward needing more, "What's his name? Is he hot?"

She chuckles and fans herself, "I wasn't shown his name, or what he looks like but his energy is . . . large, massive feeling, like he's 50 feet tall or something, but again that's not all there is to him. There was an endearing softness to him, that I usually read as being a momma's boy or even being an old soul. He'll set your world on fire but also be your peace as well."

I grin and stand, offering her money from my pocket, "Keep it honey, it's on the house." Instead she hands me a card with a phone number, "Call me when my guides will allow for more."

"Thank you." The smile doesn't leave my face as I walk through the beads, almost running into Mikhail.

"Were you eavesdropping on my future?" I accuse, feeling self-conscious. It was pretty personal.

Mikhail just purses his lips and walks away.

"Rude."

We reach the plane at the same time as Meredith and she gives me a nasty look before boarding.

"Bitch." I say under my breath.

Mikhail turns to me and narrows his eyes.

"You shouldn't be so hard on her, she doesn't have what you do."

"She starts it, always has, I'm not a mean girl but I won't be walked over just because she has issues with me for whatever fucking reason."

"It's hard coming in second fiddle."

I'm not too sure what he's getting at but I have a feeling there's something else underlying with her. It doesn't matter though.

"I will not apologize for being great." I board the plane and choose a seat away from everyone else, put my headphones on and pull out my sketch pad, making it clear I want to be left alone.

As we take off and I listen to my favorite bands like Badflower and Highly Suspect, I take my time sketching out a hyper realistic portrait and think of everything I learned today.

This trip is not just a fun little trust building exercise or some shit like that; or even a simple competition. It doesn't even seem like it's for us novices. Something else much sinister is going on and I'm afraid we're nothing but pons.

I think back again to what Lissa's dad said to me. He told me a war is brewing and I must win the trials. A pit begins to form in my stomach. What if he said that because of Lissa. What if he can't guarantee we'll be placed together? It seems silly to think a man as powerful as him couldn't make sure his daughter got the guardian of her choice but nothing else makes sense to me why he would be so distraught. I'll need to talk to him soon, find out everything he knows about the conflict that's been forming under everyone's noses, when he can speak more freely.

Once I resolve myself that there's nothing I can do at this moment and I'll have to find answers once we're in Russia, I then think of the lovers card.

As much as I want to hold onto my skepticism, I cannot deny her using the exact words I'd used in my own head when thinking of myself. That can't be a coincidence. Vampires exist and magic for crying out loud, why not psychics? Even Mikhail, a hardnose motherfucker, believes and seeing as it's his own Aunt . . . I can't help myself but want it to be true.

I've never had a serious boyfriend before, only little casual hook ups, but even then those didn't go too far. Everyone thought Lissa was the angel and me the devil, but she's actually the one that has already lost her virginity. And to Aaron of all people! It was hard not to judge her for that one, I'm going to be really honest.

I've always been more of a flirter than anything else, and a good make out session has never hurt anyone but other than that . . . there hasn't been anyone I've wanted to be with like that. But if Rhonda is right and I'm about to meet him . . . Shit no, this cannot be good, it would mean he goes to a completely different school, probably across the planet! I am so not a long distance kinda person.

Hopefully he's a top five like me . . . or maybe not, it would mean we'd probably have to go up against each other and possibly eliminate one another. I know myself, I am too competitive for that shit to sit right if he was the reason I lost. But then again if he's not top five . . . could he keep up with me? I mean I feel like if I'm going to be with anyone they have to be just as badass as I am . . .

Rhonda said he was masculine but gentle and capable . . . definitely top five. Alright, I can deal with that, it's better than the alternative. A weakling, pfft, I could never.

Despite my fear of the unknown I continue sketching with a new smile on my face of what I do have to look forward to. I am going to rock this competition, maybe meet the love of my life and hopefully replace this bone deep loneliness with . . . I don't even know, something else.

AN: Please review, I love the feedback!