Dimitri's Point of View in Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy) (Book 3)

Part 2

Chapter 2:

I walked silently across the campus, nodding at the guardian taking over my watch post. The snow threatened to seep into my shirt so I pulled the duster closer to my chest. Thanking God that I had remembered to bring it.

But according to Rose: I was nothing without my western wardrobe. She had told me that the other day and I laughed at that. To her I was like some old cowboy ready for a shootout. I smiled as I made my way to the main office where Kirova and Alberta were waiting for me.

I approached the tall European-type building. It’s massive shape casting long, dark and spooky looking shadows along the unbroken snow. Seeing the ground like this, untouched and not full of life brought me back a month ago when Rose and I had gone to the Badica house to see Art.

A shiver went up and down my spine as I remembered that day clearly. Seeing one of the greatest guardians lying dead on the floor made me cringe. And the way Tamara’s face looked as she took in her mentor made me realize that this could happen to anyone.

I’m sure Art put up a good fight, but not good enough. And for her to witness someone close to her that made her who she was today, dead below her feet. Well, I promised myself that I would never let that happen to Rose. I would never leave her, never hurt her again.

I don’t know how Tamara did it; I’m positive if it were Rose looking down at me lying lifeless on the floor she would have punched someone. Or rather done something stupid, like avenge my death, and get killed doing it.

My heart squeezed painfully at the thought of Rose running after my killer and getting killed herself.

Shaking my head I entered the building. The warm blast blew away any of my last thoughts and brought me back to reality. That would never happen, we were here, safe, and I will always have Rose.

Alberta was sitting in one of the lobby’s chairs reading a book. She glanced up when the door shut behind me. Smiling she stood up, placing the book on the coffee table next to the chair, she walked towards Kirova’s office.

Taking in a deep breath I entered the room. Kirova was a birdlike woman, who liked to have her reading glasses perched on the edge of her long pointy nose. Nodding out of respect I stood in the middle of the room next to Alberta, waiting for Kirova to gesture for us to sit down.

She didn’t.

Instead she ushered me forward, I did as I was told, walking around her massive desk to stare at the computer screen. There was a list of times, dates and names before me, as I read through it all I recognized what this was.

It was the guardians new schedule; due to Victor’s trial. Myself and several other guardians that went on the rescue trip were going to it.

Victor still wasn’t officially jailed yet. The queen had yet to assign a trial date, and didn’t like the fact that she was locking up a royal, and a huge one at that.

But looking at the computer screen I could visually see what the next six weeks would be like. And like Alberta had said, Celeste took my watches, she and Emil divided up my training times. Leaving me with less work to do and giving them more.

“This will be the guardian’s schedule from here until Victor’s trial is finished.” Kirova said as she scrolled down the screen. “Is there anything you want to change Belikov?”

I looked at her astonished, never before had the Headmistress asked a person lower than her to make up the schedule. I was honored but curious as to why. In answer she ticked her fingers against the hardwood desk, clearly annoyed with me being quiet.