Spirit Bound Fan fiction

Chapter 1

"Rose!"

"What? Uhh…" I looked up to see Stan looming over me. Urgh. Is this man out to get me or something? Ever since I came back to the Academy (the first time), he has been on my case.

"Exactly, listen! Class is not for sleeping, it's for learning."

"I know, it's just…it's—"

"What is it? You getting drunk last night and not being able to focus because you went to sleep at god knows what time?"

To be honest, I don't remember what happened last night. All I can recall is getting up in the middle of the day (since that's when we sleep) and heading to the cafeteria and looking for something to drink.

"Um" I didn't know what to say. Usually I would pull the old Rose Hathaway joke or smartass comment but now, well now I wasn't in the mood.

Or is it the fact that for once, a topic isn't about you or Belikov?" He smiled at the last word. "Tell us Hathaway, we want to know." He gestured toward the class.

Ouch. He had touched a sensitive topic. By now, basically the whole academy knows about Dimitri and me. I don't know how they found out (probably Stan not being able to keep his big mouth shut), but it is embarrassing. I don't want everyone knowing my personal life, especially if it involves a former mentor. It was hard enough telling Lissa, my best friend, let alone having the whole school know about it and ask questions about it. Seriously, don't they have better things to do than ask questions like 'Did he like you back' or 'Did you act on your feelings'.

Stan got me frustrated with that last question. I stood up "No, I'm not sleeping in your class because you're not talking about me or Dim—Belikov! Hell, if you were talking about it, I would fall asleep. I'm sick of hearing about it! I've been back for like a month now, and you still can't get over it! I'm doing a better job at forgetting about the whole thing, than you or everyone!" I lied. I'm still struggling with the idea that Dimitri is still out there, killing innocent people. Struggling about the fact that he is coming for me… not to turn me into a Strigoi, no, this time he wants to kill me. Well, I would prefer that over becoming a monster.

"Believe me Hathaway, we are over it. It's you who isn't. Don't you think we've noticed your change in behaviour? You waking up and wandering around, drinking, ignoring others, keeping to yourself all the time—"

I laughed a mockingly, "You think I do these things because of that? No, I do it because, well, because…" The image of the bridge came back to me. How I jumped off and how Dimitri caught me in a flash. How the look in his eyes were so, so close to his old self. His voice when he was telling me to get away from the edge. How he'd said 'That's what I was supposed to say'. I kept repeating the words in my head. Was he going tell me that he loved me? No, I can't keep thinking about what happened. I need to start thinking about what will happen.

"Hello, miss Hathaway?"

The thoughts disappeared as I came back to reality. "Uh, yeah?"

"What was it that you were saying? Oh yes, you're not acting up because of Belikov? Then why, you were about to tell us. We are so very interested."

I took a deep breath, trying to control what's becoming anger. "It's just because I'm about to graduate and I need not to care that much anymore. I mean, there's less than a month to go and I need my catch up on fun." I gave him a mocking smile which seemed to piss him off more.

He looked as if he were to say something else that would get me very pissed, so I beat him to it. The old Rose kicked in. "Oh, and if you want to know why I sleep in your class, ok, I'll tell you. You bore me Stan, very much. You always have and I just can't take anymore of your old annoying voice. And since graduation is around the corner, I think hey, what's the point. So there it is Stan, I told you, if you want me awake well then, why don't you just shut your big mouth."

Stan was shocked. He didn't expect any of that; I could see it in his face. He walked back to his desk and got out a piece of paper, wrote something on it and handed it to me. "To the head office… now."

I took the paper, and walked out of the room, giggling. Does he really think, I'll go to the head office? HA! Instead I went to the back of the academy. It was cold tonight and I couldn't help but shiver a little.

I found a small bench and went to sit down. I came here quite often to think. No one came around here, so I thought that it would be a good place for alone time. The main reason I came here though, was because I can see the path that leads to the cabin. It brings back nice, warming memories. They were the memories I didn't mind coming back to, but they still pained me. It hurt to know that something like what happened in the cabin will never happen again. Well it may happen again. But that involves doing the unthinkable.

When I had been in Siberia, I was told that there was a fairytale about being able to turn a Strigoi back to its normal self. The only problem was that the person who says this is god knows where. His name is Robert Dashkov, brother of Victor Dashkov. Victor is a horrible man. He kidnapped Lissa and tortured her until she used her healing powers to heal him of a disease that was killing him. He then made his own daughter turn Strigoi, who was killed anyway… by Dimitri. Now, Victor is locked up for a long, long time. Lissa and I were there for the trial. She had been so worried if he wasn't found guilty, I could feel her emotions and they were strong, very strong. If she were to find out that I'd have to break him out of prison, she'd be devastated. But, I'm going to have to tell her. She said she wants to come with me whenever I go do some outrageous quests. This was one of them but I just don't know how she'd react.

But, what if, what if Victor agrees to take us to his brother Robert, who will tell us how to reverse the curse of Strigoi. Dimitri would be cured; I would have my prince back. He'll have his dark brown eyes again, the tanned skin…his soul. Man, this last month is taking a hell of a long time.

"Rose?"

Startled, I turned around to find Adrian standing there with a folder in his hand. "Oh, hi Adrian, I didn't see you there." Well obviously, he was standing behind me. And, he hadn't called me his little Dhampir, which was a little weird. Was there something wrong?

"I have something for you." He said as he came to sit next to me and handed me the folder.

"What is it?" I asked, curious. I hoped it wasn't any mail…from Russia. I opened it and to my relief, it wasn't.

"You have to read it to find out." He replied with a smile. He seemed so…different. Ever since I came back, he's been kind and sweet. It was nothing like him.

There were papers stapled together and on the first page it said 'Homework, given to me by Rose Hathaway' Huh? I thought as I flipped one page. "Oh." I said out loud accidentally.

"What?" Adrian asked in a worried tone. "Isn't it good?"

I had completely forgotten. I told Adrian that he had to write an essay as to why I should go out with him. Damn. I can't tell him I forgot, it would make him feel bad. I started reading it. I couldn't believe what I was reading; it was all so formal, nothing like the Adrian I'm used to.

"It's good, it's just…" I couldn't find the words. "Unexpected." I finally said.

"Unexpected?"

"Well I didn't think you'd actually write it, that's all."

"Oh." Was all he had said.

I felt his hopes coming down. No, I couldn't let that happen. I've hurt a lot of people in the last few months, I can't do it again. I turned to face his curious eyes and smiled. For the first time in my days of knowing Adrian, he was… shy. Shy? No, he couldn't be, it was Adrian.

He looked away, that's how I knew. We sat in silence for a few minutes. I finally spoke. "I tell you what, because you actually did this essay, I'll give it a shot."

He looked up at me, his eyes filling with joy, "You serious?"

I smiled, "Yeah, except—"

"Except…"

"I want you to be the Adrian I know; the one that isn't shy, and quiet. Because that's the one that impresses me and that's the one I'd like to give it a go with." I hoped I found the right words.

He smiled a warm smile at me, "Deal." He got up, and looked back to me, "I have to go, people will wonder where I am, because well, look at me." He smiled a teasing smile which I couldn't help but laugh a little.

"Okay." I replied a little disappointed. I enjoyed his company.

"I'll see you around, my little Dhampir." And with that, he was gone. I was alone again.

I was a little proud of myself. I managed to move on, I think. A cool breeze picked up and I shivered, wrapping myself with my arms. All I had on was a t-shirt and jeans. Great. Why didn't I have my jumper today?

I looked down to my watch. Crap. I had been out here for nearly 30 minutes. But it wouldn't hurt if I stayed a little longer. So I just sat there, thinking of different things like how graduation will be, if Victor will agree to help us, what would happen if Dimitri found me before I found out the cure.

I sighed, "Dimitri" I whispered, a small tear rolling down my cheek. I stared into the trees surrounding the academy. Am I cheating on him by trying to make it work with Adrian? Oh god, what if I am? Wait. What am I thinking? I can't be cheating, can I? I don't know. I went to Siberia to kill him, not to break up with him…. What if I am two timing him. Urgh. Why does it have to be so difficult?

"Roza", came a voice from the trees.

I stood up, looking around. 'What?' I thought. "No…"

"Roza", the familiar voice said again.

I looked forward, and couldn't help but move in the direction the voice was coming from. "Dimitri?" I asked getting closer to the source.

"Roza". The voice moved from the trees and onto the path that led to the cabin.

That one word was full of kindness and love. And I was being pulled towards it, literally. I couldn't stop myself. The path was longer than I thought I was. I haven't walked down it in a while. I followed the voice and let that pressure pull me to where ever it was taking me.

I stopped when I realised where I had been taken. The cabin. I was so confused, why had I been taken here?

"Roza, do you remember?" Asked the voice with such love.

"Yes," I replied, tears of joy filling my eyes. My Dimitri was back. "Yes I do, I'll never forget."

"Then why?"

"Why what?" I asked, confused.

"Why are you dating him?" The voice answered, full of hurt.

"I'm, I'm not." I replied, feeling guilty.

"You're giving him a shot." It was a mocking tone then it changed to frustration, disappointment and sadness. "Why did you betray me Rose? I thought you loved me? I thought you wanted to help me?"

"I will help you, I'm doing my best."

"Are you now? How is hanging around this place helping me?"

"I'm just going to graduate, I promised I will. Then I'll do whatever it takes to save you."

"Save me?" Asked the voice, surprised.

"Well yeah—"

"I never asked to be saved. I need help and the only way I can get it, is if you joined me. If you really love me, you'll do it. I thought you loved me Roza. We could be together forever."

"What?" I asked, stunned. "Is it you Dimitri?" My prince had vanished.

"Who else do you think it is?" He replied as if it were the stupidest question. "Roza, come with me, I want you, I'll always be with you."

"No." I answered shakily as I started backing towards the school.

"Roza…" It wasn't filled with love anymore.

"NO! NO! I won't join you, I won't be a monster!"

And with that, I started running back towards the school. Dimtiri's voice was still there, calling me. Then, all of a sudden he was there, in front of me. I halted to a stop. "What do you want from me?" I yelled.

He held out his arms, "you." He simply said.

That saddened me. He only wanted me like a pet or whatever; he never said he loved me.

"No!" I yelled, "I don't want you, so leave me alone, let me move on. You're not the same, you never will be! I'll try to save you but if I can't, then I'll kill you."

I ran forward, as if to push him out of my way, but as I did, I went right through him. 'What?' I thought. Was he a hallucination? Doesn't matter, I just had to keep running. The only problem was that when I tried, he'd appear either in front of me or beside me which caused me to stumble. I tried my best ignoring it, but I failed, he'd always be there.

"C'mon Rose!" I yelled to myself. I ran, ran so hard that my feet were screaming at me, telling me to stop. Why would I listen to my feet now? It was a life or death situation. Was it? I couldn't think now, I just had to run.

I'd been running for what seemed to be ages, but I finally saw the schools' walls. "Yes." I said to myself, "Just a little more, you can do it." I ran, and ran, until I finally reached the school but instead of stopping at the bench I ran to the courtyard and towards the Novice's dorms. I got in the building, ran up the stairs, taking every second step to get to my floor. Once reaching my room, I kicked the door open, breaking the lock in the process and slammed it shut. I leaned against the closed door and slid down, bringing my knees to my face. I felt safe, for now.