Chapter Text
It's been two weeks since Masons funeral and I was heading to the back room of the gym as I usually did when Rose was In her dorm. Halfway there I noticed a fifteen or so year old Dhampir girl with dark blonde hair sitting on a bench crying. She glanced up as I made my approach known.
“Are you alright?” I asked trying to put some softness In my voice.
“Yeah, I'm fine.” She responded. I sat down next to her.
“Boy trouble then?”
“How did you know?” I smiled sweetly at how oblivious she was.
“Because I know things, So what's wrong?” The girl looked at me unsure. “You can tell me, when do you ever think you're going to see me again?” I laughed slightly and she smiled.
“Well, it's just that I really like this guy, maybe even love him but he's my best friend and he likes another girl. I don't know what to do.” My heart started to ache. “Are you okay?” She asked me.
“Yeah, I'm okay. You need to tell him.”
“What?” She squeaked.
“Think of it like this. What if something horrible happened to him and you never got to tell him, how would you feel?”
“I'd be devastated.” Then she smiled and got up. “Thank you and I'm sorry.”
“What for?”
“For the guy you lost.” She smiled sympathetically and walked away.
I waited a minute to stop myself shaking.
“Shit.” I got up and ran to the gym. I was almost there when a familiar voice came out of the blue.
“Hey girly.” I turned to face Adrian and glared at him.
“What did I say about calling me that?”
“It seems to be the only way to get your attention now-a-days. By the way good job with that girl. I almost saw the old Sapphire in there.”
“The old Sapphire is gone just with all my emotions, my duty is the only thing that matters. Now if you don't mind Lord Ivashkov I need to get back to my training.”
“Why do you have to still train? You're pretty much a Guardian already.” He chuckled. I didn't understand why he chuckled.
“Because I've got to keep my skills honed.”
“Have I ever mentioned your aura before?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, it's shimmery and multicoloured or something.”
“Well it was but now it's greying.”
“I can't be bothered to talk about this nonsense with you. Now goodbye, don't try and follow me.” I snapped turning my back and ran into the gym.
I dumped my bag at the corner of the room and did my usual training routine. When I was almost finished Dimitri came in. I rotated myself to face him.
“Guardian Belikov, is there something that you require me for?” I said in a professional manner.
“Actually I do, I need you to patrol the perimeter with me tomorrow when the students are asleep.”
“Of course.” I went back to the dummy but Dimitri was still standing there. “Is there anything else you want to talk about?”
“No, not at the moment.” And he walked out. I waited to hear the main gym door open and shut but it never came. I listened as best I could, there was another person out there with him.
“You need to talk to her Dimitri, you know what's she's done, don't you?” It was Alberta's voice.
“She's turned off her emotions to forget the pain.”
“We need to get her emotions back otherwise she might turn into a vengeful.”
“I know, I’ll talk to her tomorrow.”
After that they left.
How the hell could they think I would turn into a vengeful? They are Guardians that don't have any regard for there duty and go hunting Strigoi until they fulfil their need then most of them aren't heard of again. There's no way in hell that I’ll become one of them, my duty is too important to me. On that thought I went back to my dorm room. I slumped down on my bed and let exhaustion take me. No nightmares tonight, instead a wondrous dream.
I was staring out of the window in the room at the back of the gym. The door opened behind me, I turned quickly to see my favourite person, Mason. I ran tackling him in a hug.
“Anyone would have thought you missed me.” He murmured into my hair. I looked up at his gorgeous blue eyes.
“I have missed you so much, I can barely breathe without you here with me.” I smiled with a single tear running down my cheek.
He gently wiped it away with his thumb, “I promised you that I’ll always be here.”
“But you haven't been, I need you back.” I pleaded to him.
“I am always here.” I placed a finger over my heart. “You just need to try and feel again.”
“By it hurts too much.” I whimpered. He cupped my face with his hands.
“I made a promise, I’ll always be with you.” He leaned in and I closed my eyes. He kissed my forehead before pulling away.
“Where are you going?” I asked panicked trying to grab hold of his hand but it was already out of my reach.
“Someone else is here Sapphire but remember what I said I'll always be here just try to feel again.”
Then he just vanished.
“Hello girly.”
“Adrian.” I groaned in annoyance.
“What happened there?”
“He left because you're here, that's what happened.” I growled aggressively.
“That's not what I meant. Why didn't you kiss him? I know you wanted to and you still do.”
“I dunno, I guess you can't feel or do it in dreams if you haven't do it in reality.”
“Oh, you've never kissed a guy.” I shook my head. Then something occurred to me.
“Wait, you can make him come back right? You can make dreams whatever you want. Please bring him back.” I begged him.
“I'm sorry, I can't.”
“B-but you've made dreams before.”
“Yes but I waited until you fell asleep before your mind made one itself.”
“I-I n-need t-to s-see h-him again.” I said as Adrian walked towards me.
“No Sapphire, you need to get over him. He's not coming back.” Adrian yelled at me while shaking my shoulders. Then everything turned black.
I woke up with tears flooding my cheeks, I couldn't breathe. Falling onto the floor as sudden pain erupted in my chest. Then I heard someone trying to get in. Finally the door burst opened but I wasn't trying to see who it was, I was trying to keep breathing.
“Breathe Sapphire, come on breathe.” A voice blared in my ears as I was cradled into someone's chest.
“What's happening in here?” It was Dimitri voice.
“I'm trying to get her to breathe.”
“Give her here.” I was moved from one person to the other. I glanced up to see Dimitri. “Sapphire please breathe.”
I was able to take a deep breath before trying to speak, “He's gone. He's not coming back.”
“I know little sis, I’m so sorry.”
“I can't breathe without my heart hurting.” Dimitri pulled me closer to him.
“Once you accept everything that's happened, it'll get easier I promise.”
“No, don't promise no one can ever keep them.” I muttered feeling sleepy again, closing my eyes.
“Adrian can you go find Alberta and tell her what's happened. I'm going to take Sapphire to the Medical clinic.”
“I will, just make sure she's okay.” I gave into the darkness after that.
I woke up In the familiar surroundings of the medical clinic with a oxygen mask over my face. My heart still hurt but it was only a large throbbing instead of the unbearable pain from before. Opening my eyes fully to find that I wasn't alone. Dimitri had fallen asleep in the chair next to the bed, I moved slightly and his eyes shot open.
“Hey big bro, You okay?”
“Always thinking of others before yourself I see.” He chuckled. “I'm fine, how are you feeling?”
“My heart still hurt but it's bearable. I do feel a little woozy though.” When silence was my only response I started to get worried.
“You nearly died Sapphire, your body was trying to give up. What made you want to release your emotions all at once like that? I thought I lost you.”
“I didn't know you cared.”
“You're like my little sister, how could I not care?” I nodded my head trying to somehow show that the feeling was mutual.
“Mason told me too.”
“What?”
“In my dream, Mason told me to 'I'll always be here just try to feel again.'” I pointed at my heart.
“The Doctor said that now you've let out some of your emotion, you can still start your field experience tomorrow.”
“So what will I be doing exactly?” My words were muffled by the mask. I gently took it off much to Dimitri's protest.
“You will be looking out for yourself when Rose is in lesson and watch over her when she's not but you must not interfere if a fake Strigoi attacks her understood.” I nodded before he continued. “You'll also be doing watches around the perimeter and don't worry about the other Guardian's going easy on you, they won't.” A small smile escaped him.
“What?”
“I'm just glad to have the old you back that's all. I've been needing to talk to you about Rose.” I sat up in the bed properly.
“Okay shoot.” I grinned at him. He walked closer and sat down on the bed.
“I have these feelings for Rose and I know she has them for me too but if we do anything it could compromise us protecting the Princess and there's the age difference and ….” He rambled on whispering until I started to giggle. “What?”
“You love her Dimitri, you can't do anything about your feelings. ” He smiled slightly and I continued, “But you know protecting the Princess will be awkward.”
“I know that's what I'm worried about.”
“If it helps you won't need to protect Rose, for one thing she's trained by you and we already know she's a brilliant fighter but another thing is that I will always be there to protect her.”
“Promise me you'll stay strong for her no matter what even if something happens to me. Promise me you'll be there for her.”
“I promise but what do you mean if something happens to me?”
“If the other guardian's find out about me and Rose then I might be taken somewhere. You know what I mean.”
“Could I ask you something?” Changing the subject quickly.
“Sure, what is it?”
“How did you know I switched my emotions off?”
“Firstly it was the way you acted like only your duty mattered not even your well being was before it but the biggest thing was that you hadn't sung in the gym like you always did.”
“Okay, could you get the Doctor to release me now? I want to do some training before everything kicks off tomorrow.” He nodded
“Your still up for doing the perimeter check with me tonight aren't you?”
“No one can stop me.” He chuckled again walking out the door.
Within half an hour I was discharged and on my way to the gym when Alberta stopped in front of me.
“How are you feeling?”
“I'm going to be okay.” I partially said that to reassure myself.
“I'm glad to hear it.”
“Don't worry, I won't become a vengeful.” I smirked.
“You heard us talking?”
“Yeah but it was true if I continued the way I was going I could've become one.”
“You really are the best of all of us, not many would've admitted that.”
“I'm just being honest. If you could excuse me I'm going to get a little practice in before it starts tomorrow.”
“Okay, I'll see you up sharp tomorrow.”
“Like always.” I grinned waving goodbye and went into the gym.
An hour of training made me feel much better. I keep thinking about what Dimitri said with me not singing. It was true, I hadn't sung in a long time and it always made me feel better. Right after that thought a song popped into my head and I started singing.
It doesn't hurt me.
Do you want to feel how it feels?
Do you want to know that it doesn't hurt me?
Do you want to hear about the deal that I'm making?
You, it's you and me.
And if I only could,
Id make a deal with god,
And I'd get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building.
If I only could, oh...
You don't want to hurt me,
But see how deep the bullet lies.
Unaware I'm tearing you asunder.
Ooh, there is thunder in our hearts.
Is there so much hate for the ones we love?
Tell me, we both matter, don't we?
You, it's you and me.
Its you and me wont be unhappy.
And if I only could,
Id make a deal with god,
And I'd get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building,
Say, if I only could, oh... You,
Its you and me,
Its you and me wont be unhappy.
Cmon, baby, cmon darling,
Let me steal this moment from you now.
Cmon, angel, cmon, cmon, darling,
Lets exchange the experience, oh...
And if I only could,
Id make a deal with god,
And I'd get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
With no problems.
And if I only could,
Id make a deal with god,
And I'd get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
With no problems.
And if I only could,
Id make a deal with god,
And I'd get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
With no problems.
If I only could
Be running up that hill
With no problems...
After the song ended I released a deep sigh then had arms wrapping around my waist from behind. I peered up to see Adrian's face.
“That was Beautiful.” He smiled. “You alright?” Concern shone on his face when I didn't answer.
“Yeah.” I sighed again.
“I'm sorry about last night, I shouldn't have said that to you.” He apologised.
“It's fine, I needed to hear it.” I said sternly.
“No, I shouldn't have said it.” He turned me around to face him, “When I got into your room I thought the worst, you scared the shit out of me Sapphire.” I was slightly stunned by his confession.
“Look I'm fine, better than I was before.” I paused, “But how did you know that I couldn't breathe and how did you get in my room?”
“It's hard to explain, I woke up straight away and it was like I could feel that you needed help so I ran down the hall to you and tried the door but It was locked then a second later it unlocked on it's own. When I saw you on the floor, I dunno. It's like I could hear your heart beat slowing down.”
“Must be a new spirit ability of yours.” He quirked his eyebrow up obviously he didn't know I knew. “I get a feeling off people with what element they are and yours feels like Lissa's.” I smiled when I realised that he was still holding me.
“Was the other thing you told me in the dream true?”
“What about me having not kissed anyone?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, yeah. I've kinda been kept on a short leash my whole life.”
“Do you want to know what it feels like?” I looked up at his emerald green eyes and felt like I was melting. All I could do is smile. He leaned in and I shut my eyes. His lip gently brushed mine almost teasingly then pushed fully onto them. The feeling was intoxicating, it was sweetest and most tender thing I have ever felt. I don't know what I was feeling, happy, excited and nervous rolled all in one. I opened my eyes when it ended to see Adrian's cheeky grin before me, I couldn't help but smile back. He grabbed my hand and kissed it. “I'll be seeing you later milady.” And he left.
Wow, my first kiss. I thought gently touching my lips.
I couldn't stop smiling when walking to Dimitri to go on Guard with him for tonight. I finally got to the Guardians office to see Dimitri and Alberta standing outside talking. When Dimitri saw me he hid a grin, I skipped towards them. Alberta looked surprised.
“Hey big bro.” I chirped.
“I see you're feeling better.” Alberta assessed.
“Yep.” Popping the 'p'.
“Okay little sis, shall we get going.” I nodded eagerly.
We exited the block and started walking around the perimeter of the Academy staying just inside the wards. On the second lap Dimitri decided to start up the conversation.
“So why are you so happy? This afternoon you were only in pain, now your…...chipper. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, just a very sudden change.”
“I sung at practice and now I feel better.” It wasn't a lie, just a manipulation of the truth.
“Well I'm glad.” He smiled.
“What do you think about making this a little more fun?”
“What are you thinking?” He was looking at me out of the corner of his eye.
“A race, first to do five perimeter laps wins.”
“You're on but you know you're going to lose right?”
“Oh, you think so. We'll just have to see. Ready... set... go.” And I zoomed off.
By the end of the fourth lap me and Dimitri were still drawing, I could see that he was actually trying as his face had fierce determination written all over it. I had a flash of Rose exiting the dorm building. Then Dimitri was in front of me waving a hand in my face.
“You okay?”
“Your student is outside, just around the corner in fact. Go on, we'll race again next time.”
“You better go get some sleep, big day tomorrow.” I nodded and ran off in the opposite direction.
Once I got in my dorm I had a quick shower and got into my knee-high silk nighty. Lying down on my bed I started thinking about Mason and I actually smiled instead of crying. I relaxed drifting into a peaceful sleep or I thought it would be.
Running another lap of the perimeter around the academy grounds when I saw Dimitri up ahead facing the trees that border the Academy.
“Dimitri.” NO response.
I stepped closer.
“Dimitri, are you okay?” He still didn't respond. I hesitantly got closer stopping about ten foot away.
He finally turned around and what I saw shocked me. His throat was ripped open with blood trickling down from his neck getting soaked up in his shirt. Then he fell to the ground to reveal a blonde haired Strigoi behind him with blood stained around it's mouth and It was posed to jump.
I woke up with someone shaking me, I clamped my hand over my mouth to stop myself from screaming. Adrian was sitting on the edge of my bed with my other hand in his own. I hugged him tightly.
“Sh, it's okay. It was just a nightmare.” He reassured me while stroking my hair. I pulled away and breathed out. Then I realised he was shirtless and tried to stop the blush that was forming across my cheeks.
“Thanks.”
“No problem, but what made you so scared?” I frowned at the question.
“If I tell you, you can't tell anyone else.”
“I P..Won't.” I knew he was about to say promise but remembered what I said last night.
“In the dream I was doing my laps around the perimeter of the Academy then I saw Dimitri facing away from me. I called to him but he didn't reply so I stepped toward him. When he finally turned around, his throat was ripped out and there was a Strigoi behind him ready to attack me. That's when you woke me up.” I shivered.
“It was just a nightmare. You know Belikov, he's one of the best Guardian's out there. Well that is until you graduate then you'll be the best.”
“Thanks.” I smiled.
“I better let you get back to sleep, you got a big day tomorrow or rather today.”
“Wait, how did you know I was having a nightmare?”
“It was weird, I was woken up by someone whispering my name then it got louder and more urgent, once I realised that it was your voice I came straight here.” He paused thinking for a few seconds, “Have you ever thought that you might have some Spirit abilities?”
“I know I have some.”
“What? Why didn't you tell me? What can you do?”
“I didn't tell anyone except M-mason because I wasn't sure whether it would have bad repercussions like me getting taken back to court and assessed again.”
I stopped to think, “I can do mind links when practised, communicate through minds as well. I can also pull pain out of people so I feel it instead but I've only ever done it once though.”
“Wow, what do you mean mind links and communicate through minds?”
“Erm, mind links I can only do to Rose. I can see through her eyes, feel her emotions and if I have to then I can go through her memories but I don't like to do that; It feels like an invasion of privacy. Communication through minds is when I can actually talk to people inside their heads and they can talk back.” My eyelids started to get heavy.
“We can talk more about it later. Get some sleep.” He kissed my forehead and left the room. I fell back to sleep quickly but all too soon my alarm was going off for me to get up.
I quickly got changed into my old fighting gear with a black mac coat over the top. I ran out and down the stairs, I exited the building and everything seemed to slow down. Guardian Emil jumped at me. I skidding down doing the splits while ducking through his legs flipped up as he turned and lunged again. I kicked him sending him flying back into the wall, I quickly pursued him while taking my silver stake out from my belt, blocking his punch and tapped his chest with the stake. He stopped struggling and smiled at me.
“Did I hurt you with that kick?” I asked feeling slightly guilty. Emil was about to answer when there was clapping from behind me. I turned to see Alberta smiling.
“Well done Sapphire, that was a flawless attack. Are you alright Emil it looked like that kick hurt?”
“Yeah I'm fine, a little sore though.” I sent him an apologetic look.
“Good, go and tell Guardian Belikov that we understand that we need to take it up a notch with this one. After you can go on break.” Emil walked off towards the main Academy building.
“Do you want me to have a practice stake or should I stick with my one?”
“You can keep your own one, come walk with me Sapphire.”
She told me all about how Rose is going to be with Christian instead of Lissa and Eddie was going to be protecting Lissa for the field experience.
“Bad idea, she isn't going to be happy about that.” I stated.
“I know she won't but she need to know how to be a Guardian to someone that she isn't bonded to.”
“Once she realises that it'll help her to protect Lissa later on then she be content and committed.” I tried to stay professional.
“I hope you're right. Last thing that I’ll need to tell you about the field experience, The fake Strigoi will only be dressed in black clothes if they're in their normal clothes then they are on their usual Guardian duties.” I nodded. We entered the hall to see all the novices clustering around the bottom of the staging area. Soon it was under way, I watched Rose and Eddie's reaction to Lissa being with Eddie instead of Rose.
After the assignment calling process was over I saw Rose speeding towards Alberta and Dimitri. Yeah, she definitely isn't happy? I waited until she had her tantrum and stormed off before I walked over to Alberta and Dimitri. I suppressed a grin while going towards them.
“Told you.” I said confidently.
Alberta had a disappointed sigh, “Yes, but at least she's accepted that she needs to do this. For herself and for Lissa.” Dimitri nodded. “If you can excuse me I need to talk to Stan before the novices start after Lunch.”
“Okay goodbye.” She left and I turned to Dimitri who had a proud smile on his face.
“You did a really good job this morning, staking Emil in less than a minute. But now they know what you are capable of now and they are going to be harder on you.”
“Good, all I've ever wanted is for everyone to challenge me. Could I ask you a quick question?” He nodded. “How did you know that I was in trouble before?”
“It was really odd, I was walking through your block to check the perimeter when I had a weird feeling like you were hurt. Then I ran upstairs to find your door open with Adrian trying to get you to breathe.”
“Hmm...”
“What?
“Adrian thinks that I might have a spirit ability that makes people know when I'm in trouble.”
“You talked to Adrian about this?” He sounded offended.
“Well he is my friend and I thought you were busy with planning everything for the novices.... I better get going and see if Rose has cooled down yet.” Before Dimitri and I could have an argument I was walking out of the hall.
I found Rose talking to Adrian, their conversation was coming to an end when Adrian's eyes flickered towards me. I smiled at him. He soon said he'd have to go stubbing out the cigarette on the floor and leaving it there, Rose shouted at him about littering before picking up the cigarette butt and putting it in the bin.
“Hey Saf.” I continued walking past until Rose was out of sight.
“Oh, Saf's the new nickname is it? I thought it was girly.”
“I can call you girly if you like.” He smirked.
“No, no Saf's fine. Sorry again for waking you up last night.” I apologised.
“It's alright but what's bothering you now?” He always knew when I was annoyed.
“I sort of had an argument with Dimitri that's all.”
“Did you tell him about your nightmare?”
“Of course not that'll only worry him. It was about me coming to you and talking about me having that new ability instead of him. And by the way he got a feeling as well.”
“Really. That's fascinating. What are meant to be doing as your field experience?”
“I have to watch out for myself when Rose is in lessons but when she's not I have to watch over her but not to interfere if a fake Strigoi attacks her. It's really weird, if it was reality then I would jump in and help her but I'm not allowed to do it.”
“Just think of it like this, if you do anything then It could put her marks down and they are permanent.” He sounded so mature.
“That's true.”
“You're almost back to normal, but your still feeling a bit off, aren't you?”
“How do you know?”
“It's your aura, it's brightened and slightly simmering like it used to be but there's still greying near the center, it's almost as if you have a shadow there.”
“Maybe it takes time.” I shrugged off the weird feeling again, “Well I better get going and see how Rose's first day goes.”
“Good luck.”
I got into the hall when Rose, Christian, Lissa and Eddie exited the hall from the doors on the opposite side of the hall.
I watch them go to lessons then I waited until they meet up with Lissa and Eddie again afterwards. I observed them from down the other end of the corridor while fiddling with Mason's bracelet when Emil attacked one of the Moroi girls, and two other 'Strigoi' was going after Shane's Moroi. I heard a couple of footsteps behind me and had my stake ready. Before Guardian Alto even had a chance to grab me I turned around at immense speed and 'staked' him.
“Really Alto, try harder next time.” I chuckled.
“Trust me I will.” He grinned. I turned back around to see Dimitri getting 'Staked' by both Eddie and Shane. Rose and Christian now were going to Culinary science which was basically a cooking lesson, a lesson I've always wanted to take part in. I peered through the window of the door quickly checking on her again before leaving. I started walking away from the classroom door when Dimitri caught my eye, he was stalking a different novice. Alberta came out of the blue, I was about to attack but I saw that she was wearing normal clothes and relaxed.
“Good job earlier. You need to go do a perimeter check now.” I nodded then walked towards the door to the outside. I ran a perimeter of the grounds twice before realising I needed to go to check on Rose as Christian's lesson was going to end any minute. I nodded towards Emil who'd begun Guardian duty before going inside.
Rose, Christian and another Moroi whose name I thought was Brandon was walking through the Quad. I could see Stan waiting in the trees to pounce, luckily she realised he was there and was ready to protect them when Mason appeared several feet in front of Rose. My heart stopped and I stumbled backward falling onto the ground. By the time I looked back up he was gone and Stan was having a go at Rose, telling her to go and talk to Alberta. They walked off but I still remain stunned on the ground.
“Sapphire, are you okay?” I looked up to see Julian and another Guardian staring at me.
“Yeah,” I got up. “I need to get to Alberta immediately.”
“She's dealing with Hathaway at the moment.”
“I know, I need to see her regarding that.”
“Okay, she's in the Guardian's office with Head Mistress Kirova.”
“Thanks.” I sprinted at full speed to the office and got there as they exited. Stan was moaning about Rose not getting a worse punishment. I continued to them until I was right in front of them.
“Alberta. It wasn't Rose's fault, she didn't do it on purpose.” I huffed out.
“Woah Sapphire calm down, are you okay? It looks like you've seen a ghost.” I cringed at the mention of 'Ghost'.
“She didn't do it on purpose.” I repeated.
Stan decided to voice his opinion, “She didn't do anything to defend them, she just stood there.”
“When I want your opinion Alto I'll ask for it.” I growled. “I know what she was feeling, she didn't do it on purpose. Trust me Alberta.”
“I do Sapphire, and you don't have anything to worry about she's only getting community service this Sunday.”
“Thank you, I better get going before she comes out.” They nodded as I ran through the exit doors. I stood outside for a minute before everything hit me. Mason standing there looking so sad made my heart shatter all over again. I couldn't help but wonder if he was mad at me for not talking to him the day before he went to Spokane, maybe I could've stopped him from going. I slumped down the wall, getting my breathing back in order.
“Saf?” I peered upwards seeing Adrian staring at me.
“Don't ask 'are you okay?' otherwise I might have to hit you.” He remained silent. “I'm fine, something happened today that scared me.” Adrian was about to speak when Dimitri came through the door looking slightly annoyed that I was hanging around with Adrian.
“Excuse us Lord Ivashkov I need to talk to Miss Black for a moment.” I knew it was serious when he addressed me as 'Miss Black'.
“Of course Guardian Belikov. Goodbye Saf, I’ll see you again soon.”
Once Adrian was out of sight Dimitri looked down at me, I unconsciously got up and stood before him.
“What is It?” I asked cocking my head to the side.
“Why did Rose not protect Christian?” Alright, he was getting straight to the point.
“All I can tell you is she didn't do it on purpose, it was an accident.”
He grabbed both of my arms so tightly I thought that he might break a bone, “I know that you know what happened so what is it?”
“I can't tell you. Just trust her and me this once, will ya.” I said pulling out of his grip.
“Something's wrong.”
“And she'll tell you when she's ready, don't get over-protective because of your feelings.” I went to walk off when he grabbed one of my arms on the same area as before.
“Please tell me.”
“You won't believe me, I have to go now.” He released me and I walked towards the other doors to enter the building. Once I knew he couldn't see me, I rubbed my arm trying to get the stinging sensation to go away. I knew it was going to leave a really really bad bruise.
“Hey Saf, what was that about?” I stopped rubbing my arm when I heard Adrian.
“Are you following me again?” I continued walking trying to find Rose.
“I am, what was that about?” He asked again.
“Dimitri wanted to know if I knew about something that happened with Rose and Christian.”
“Do you?”
“Yes but I can't tell you, it's private for both her and me.”
“Her and you?” I knew he was about to ask again until I saw Rose.
Ryan was teasing her about what happened and then he crossed the line: "Right. The way I hear it, you didn't do such a great job out there either, at least not as far as Mason was concerned."
Anger flared up in me as well as her. Rose grabbed Camille from behind him and push her into the wall, she did it so that she didn't hurt her. I couldn't stopped a smile.
Adrian's voice came from over my shoulder, “Are you going to do something?”
“I can't and he deserves it anyway.” I smirked. Adrian looked at me startled.
“But she doesn't, if you're not going to do anything I will.”
He casually walked off in Rose's direction. Adrian soon was next to her and Camille. She let go of Camille, that's when I realised that he'd used compulsion on her.
Rose and Adrian walked off into the library to meet Lissa. I went behind the a bookcase making sure I could see her still but not ease dropping on there conversation. A few minutes past before Christian came to join the table. I listened up when Rose said: "So, um ... there's something you guys should know."
Rose had told them that Victor Dashkov hadn't been found guilty yet from what happened a couple of months ago. How could that be? He kidnapped Lissa, had gotten Rose hurt from the Psi-hounds he controlled and almost killed Christian with them too. I fought the urge to punch something. Emil randomly walked into the library, luckily Eddie spotted him too and told Rose. Emil hadn't seen her sitting with the others.
Curfew soon arrived and I went back to my room, dead bolting the door to make sure no 'Strigoi' could come in while I was sleeping. I sat down on my bed and got my books out again to read up about offensive spells, to help put my mind at rest about my nightmares. After a while I looked at the clock to realise that I had to be up in four hours. I chucked my book on the floor and pulled up my duvet. I expected another nightmare but luckily Adrian came to see me instead.
Glancing around I saw that we were back at the ski lodge pool room that he's held his party in and I was wearing the outfit I wore then as well.
“Good evening.” I turned around to see Adrian in his normal expensive clothes.
“How do you get to wear your usual clothes and I have to wear this?”
“Because I want to see you in that again.”
“Why did you come to talk to me here? I'm not saying I don't appreciate It because I do, it means that I won't have another nightmare but It does make me curious.”
“Well, I could just want your company but this isn't about that. I've just visited Rose, she said that she was seeing things and asked me if I thought she was crazy. What was that about?”
“It's private.”
“That's the thing that you said that it effected you and her isn't it.”
“Yes it's that but that's all I can tell you.” He looked content as I had actually told him something.
“Okay, sleep tight.” He said and kissed my forehead. I smiled slightly as the room begun to fade.
Three days past, I watched over Rose so far as I saw no 'Strigoi' had attacked her again yet. I had a few easy fights where I would stake them In less than two minutes. So much for them not taking it easy on me. But I knew that soon I would come against Alberta or even Dimitri, I had to keep my guard up at all times. I had avoided Dimitri ever since our run in mainly because I didn't want him to see me until the bruise of my arm where he had grabbed me had healed.
It was now my turn to do the perimeter check again but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was going to get tested soon. I got to the halfway point of my third lap around the campus and my strange feeling spiked. I quickly climbed up the nearest tree that looked to be a large sturdy oak tree. Within a ten seconds of getting into a comfortable position on the branch both Alberta and Dimitri stalked around one of the closest buildings; they were wearing all black that meant they were playing Strigoi.
I flattened myself down laying fully on my stomach on one of the thicker branches to try to make it harder to see me as well as making it easier for me to jump and attack them at the right time.
They got closer and were almost directly underneath the tree I was in.
“They said she was going to be here about now.” Alberta spoke up.
“Maybe she's trying to beat her last lap time, Sapphire always like to make things more fun.” Dimitri assessed. Alberta and Dimitri both turned their backs to walk away, this was my time to attack.
I jumped out of the tree as silently as possible and landed right behind her, I weaved my arm under her armpit and 'staked' her in the chest. She stood out of the way and I was left with defeating Dimitri.
He pounced at me and our fight started, I don't know how long we had been fighting for but both of us were starting to get tired. Dimitri had the same look on his face like from when we were racing. After a while I suddenly dropped down and swept his legs from underneath him, I straddled his waist pushing the stake down with him trying to stop me. I knew he was stronger than me and it was only a case of time until he got into a position that he could get the stake out of my hands. I did the only thing I could think of and tighten my legs around his waist shocking him enough for my to 'stake' him. He stopped struggling and a proud smile was plastered on his face. I quickly got off him and backed up away from him to allow him to get up himself.
I never realised that I unconsciously went over the wards. My breathing regained itself and I turned around to see more trees surrounding the academy. I was feeling ecstatic until Mason appeared in front of me. Tears raised in my eyes. Mason brought up a hand, I staggered backwards falling onto the floor. I could hear faint voice shouting my name but my attention was on Mason. He pointed off in the direction away from the academy. Dimitri's face blocked my view off him and when I looked back there again there was just an empty space.
“Sapphire, are you okay?” Dimitri pulled me up to my feet by my arm, directly by the horrible bruise he gave me a few days ago and I couldn't help but wince slightly.
“Yeah sorry, I felt dizzy all of the sudden. Must be dehydrated or something.” Alberta took my other arm and they both escorted me to the medical clinic much to my protest.
Luckily Dr. Olendzki said I was quite dehydrated even if I didn't feel it. I got told to go rest in my room for today and tomorrow as well as keep drinking fluids. Before I left for my room both Alberta and Dimitri told me what a good job I did and using my surroundings for coverage was a brilliant strategy.
Apparently Rose had another test while I was having mine, she did well but of course Alto had to put her down and make it sound like she had done something wrong. I really didn't like that guy and I knew the feeling was mutual but sometimes I do wish that he wasn't such a dick to Rose. I did what the Doctor said and rested, basically I slept until noon the next day. I checked on Rose an she was doing community service as a punishment for the incident with Christian, I relaxed when I saw Dimitri was doing it with her. For the first time in ages I had a lazy day, I sat on my bed covered in duvets watching t.v for a few hours.
After a while I got really really bored, I ended up pacing up and down the room. Dr Olendzki told me to have bed rest today but my mind was overloading on Mason.
How was he here? What did he want? Why are me and Rose the only ones that can see him? It was infuriating not knowing the answers.