This story is set in the Vampire Academy world of St. Vladimir's Academy. If you are unfamiliar with the series the following glossary will help you navigate the story.

All definitions (and more) can be found on the Vampire Academy Wiki ( wiki/Vampire_Academy_Series_Wiki).

I hope you enjoy the story!

Moroi vampires are alive, mortal and born (conceived by two Moroi parents). Moroi can and do use magic. Moroi use the elements earth, fire, water, air, and a select few use spirit in their magic. It is common for a Moroi to specialize in one of the elements. Most Moroi do not feel comfortable being in the sunlight, though they still can be outside during the daytime. A Moroi's diet consists of blood as well as normal food.

Dhampirs are half human/half vampire. Dhampirs originated from Moroi mixing with humans. Dhampirs cannot reproduce with each other or with humans. They can only reproduce with other Moroi to create Dhampir children. Dhampirs are mortal and do not need blood to survive. Dhampirs are trained as guardians to protect Moroi from Strigoi attacks. Most are trained at St. Vladimir's Academy. Upon graduation they are assigned to protect a Moroi (usually a royal). Many Dhampir children are left fatherless because Moroi men often have affairs with Dhampir women and then have no interest in raising their offspring. Dhampir women usually do not work as guardians after having children because they choose to raise them instead. Some live on communes with other Dhampir mothers.

Strigoi vampires are immortal. They are made, not born. Humans, Dhampirs, and Moroi can be turned forcibly or willingly. There is one way to forcibly make a Strigoi: If a Strigoi drinks blood from his or her victim and then forces that person to drink Strigoi blood then he or she becomes a Strigoi. The way to willingly become Strigoi is by choice, but only a choice to the Moroi. If a Moroi purposefully kills another person while feeding then that Moroi turns Strigoi, loses his or her magical ability, can no longer go into the sunlight, and cannot walk upon holy grounds. There are only three ways to kill a Strigoi: a silver stake through the heart, decapitation, or setting the Strigoi on fire.

Field experience exam- The exam novice guardians take their senior year. They are assigned to a Moroi student for six weeks and act as their full time guardian. How well you do on this test determines where you will be assigned after graduation.

Promise mark- After novice guardians graduate from school, they receive a promise mark as a sign that they've finished their training. Those without a mark are called 'unpromised'.

Molnija mark- Guardians get the molnija mark (Russian for lightning) tattooed on their necks to mark how many Strigoi they have killed. They look like two streaks of jagged lightning crossing in an X.

Chapter One

Dean Winchester paced back and forth across the twelve inch stretch of floor in front of the bulletin board in the main lobby of St. Vladimir's Academy.

"Dude, you're going to wear a hole in the carpeting," Adrian Ivashkov mused from his spot on the staircase. "And I may not know anything about interior decorating, but I'm sure they didn't spare any expense on the décor around here."

Dean paused and looked over at his best friend, his green eyes practically shooting laser beams into Adrian's emerald ones. "It's a hardwood floor," he pointed out in a dry tone.

Adrian shrugged lazily and ran a hand through his black hair, making the purposefully messy style even messier. "Details, whatever. You're still going to fall through the floor if you don't stop," he said.

"You do remember what today is, right?" Dean asked him.

"Dean, you know I don't remember anything except my birthday and which Moroi girls are easy," Adrian joked. He knew exactly what today was…he just liked to rile up the brown haired Dhampir.

"Asshole," Dean said through gritted teeth as he continued his foot long trek.

Adrian sighed. "Today is the start of the rest of your life," he recited the speech Dean had given about thousand times since the start of their senior year. "Today you find out who you'll be guarding during your field experience exam. If you do a good job…"

Dean cut him off, "If I excel," he clarified

Adrian rolled his eyes. "If you EXCEL," he correct himself, "during the six week long exam you'll have a good chance of guarding a royal, like me," he said and patted his own chest. "after graduation." He quirked an eyebrow. "Did I miss anything?"

Dean didn't reply. He was too busy trying to crane his neck and see who was coming down the staircase behind Adrian. "Oh, it's you," he said when he saw his brother.

"Good morning to you, too," Sam Winchester said with a snicker. He took a seat beside Adrian on the bottom step. "How long have you been down here?"

"Dean woke me up around 6:00," Adrian said through a yawn.

"And he's still alive?" Sam asked in a tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Sam, you know these hands don't sully themselves with manual labor or inflict physical harm," Adrian replied.

"And he's bigger than you," Sam added, his brown eyes glinting with amusement.

"And he's bigger than me," Adrian echoed.

"Way to be supportive, you two," Dean said. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall.

"Dean, it's all but written in stone you're going to be Adrian's guardian after you graduate. Do you really think you'll be paired with someone else during field experience?" Sam asked him.

"Maybe you should worry a little more about your own training and less about my test," Dean replied.

Sam was a sophomore and guardian in training as well. While he was good at the theoretical aspects of guarding a Moroi his physical prowess wasn't as honed as some of his classmates.

"You're such a bitch sometimes," Adrian replied.

"Language, Mr. Ivashkov," Alberta Petrov, Captain of the St. Vladimir guardians, scolded the Moroi as she descended down the staircase. She was followed by a string of other senior Dhampirs, clearly eager to see their assignments.

"My apologies, ma'am," Adrian replied. "I didn't mean to offend your delicate sensibilities." As if there was anything delicate about Alberta.

Dean stepped aside so he wasn't crowding the bulletin board. Adrian and Sam flanked him on either side.

"Okay, at least you didn't creep outside her office and follow her down here," Sam mumbled under his breath. Not that it mattered. Alberta had ears like a bat.

"Our boy has SOME sense of self control," Adrian mused.

"It's not like we didn't know. His lack of dating pretty much cemented that," Sam added.

"Please, continue to talk about me like I'm not here," Dean snapped.

"If I could have everyone's attention, please," Alberta said to the gathering of Moroi and Dhampirs alike. "Thank you," she said when all conversation ceased. "As you know today is an important day for our senior Dhampirs. Field experience is how we determine if you've been paying attention during the last four years. I trust you all read the booklet I gave you last week explaining the exam."

"Dean slept with it under his pillow," Adrian muttered.

Dean cut him a sharp look, quickly silencing the Moroi. He wasn't entirely wrong, though, Dean had memorized the text from beginning to end.

"The entire exam will last six weeks," Alberta explained. "You will be excused from all classes." This elicited a cheer from the group. "But don't think this is going to be easy. You will be required to watch your Moroi 24/7. That means you'll go with them to their classes, dorms, feedings, etc."

Dean's heart was practically beating out of his chest. He knew there was very little actual danger within the protected walls of St. Vladimir's Academy, but this assignment felt like the real deal to him.

"Over the course of the exam several 'Strigoi attacks' will take place. Though the Strigoi will be portrayed by the guardians here on campus this is no reason not to treat these attacks as absolutely real. You don't have to worry about going easy on us. We want to see how you would react if your Moroi was in actual danger," Alberta continued. "Someone will always be watching and evaluating your work."

The seniors started to fidget as Alberta's speech began to wind down. Everyone was itching to know who they would be assigned to for the next six weeks.

"After I post the pairings please line up in alphabetical order and Guardian Belikov will give you a packet containing everything you need to know about your Moroi. Study the information and be prepared to get down to business tomorrow," Alberta said.

Without any more fuss she posted the list and took a step back as the guardians in training crowded around the bulletin board. Various exclamations of both delight and disappointment filled the space in the hallway.

Dean elbowed his way to the front of the group. His eyes scanned down to the bottom of the list. Winchester, Dean. Paired with…

No, that couldn't be right…

"Who the hell is Castiel Szelsky?" Dean exclaimed.