Dimitri's Point of View in Frostbite (Vampire Academy) (Book 2)

Part 4

The class were in awe as she spoke. Mouths gapeing open, eyes bluging out of their skulls and not a sound to be heard. Rose glanced around the frozen classroom. Seeming ultimitly bored out of her mind. When Janine had finished more than a dozen hands flew up into the air. And questions came pouring out.

After about the tenth question Rose's hand went up in the air. I silently pleaded her not to start anything. Although I knew she wouldn't listen, even if she could read my mind. It took Janine a while to notice and call on Rose. She was a little astonished to find Rose amongst the class, as if she never saw her. But I knew with enough training and experience that that wasn't the case. Dhampir's are trained to examine a room very closely and to know every detail.

"So, Guardian HAthaway." Rose began. Oh boy. "Why didn't you guys just secure the place?"

Janine frowned. "What do  you mean?"

It was amazing looking at these two, mother and daughter, side by side. They were nothing alike. Save for the same dark eyes. With Rose's dark long flowing hair, and Janine's short red hair. Their heights contrasted a lot and their attitudes especially.

Rose shrugged, slouching back into her desk. "I don't know. It seems to me like you guys messed up. Why didn't you scope out the place and make sure it was clear of Strigoi in the first place? Seems like you could have saved yourself a lot of trouble."

I could see everyone's eyes and attention shift to Rose. "If we hadn't gone through all that 'trouble,' there'd be seven more Strigoi walking the world, and those other captured Moroi would be dead or turned by now."

"Yeah, yeah, I get how you guys saved the day and all that, but I'm going back to the principles here. I mean, this is a theory class right?" She head moved to Stan's direction, who was regarding Rose with a very stormy look. "So I just want to figure out what went wrong in the beginning." Rose's attention turned back on her mother.

Janine was known for her self control. She didn't loose it once with Rose as she stared at her with a calm face. But by the tightness of her lips I knew she was mad with her daughter.

"It's not that simple." Janine replied. "The venue had an extremely complex layout. We went through it initially and found nothing. It's believed the Strigoi came in after the festivities had started--or that there might have been passages and hidden rooms we hadn't been aware of."

"The class ooh'ed and ahh'ed over the idea of hidden passages. But I could tell Rose wasn't even the slightest impressed.

"So what you're saying is that you guys either failed to detect them during your first sweep, or they broke through the 'security' you set up during the party. Seems like someone messed up either way."

The tightness in Janine's lips increased, and when she spoke her voice had a frosty tone to it. "We did the best we could with an unusual situation. I can see how someone at your level might not be able to grasp the intricacies of what I'm describing, but once you've actually learned enough to go beyond theory, you'll see how different it is when you're actually out there and lives are in your hands."

"No doubt." Rose agreed. "Who am I to question your methods? I mean, whatever gets you the molnija marks, right?"

I stared at Rose then, really stared at her. I knew she didn't like her mother that much, but to shun her in front of an entire class with adults present? That was way out of line. And I couldn't see how she could single her mother out like that.

"Miss Hathaway." Stan's deep voice rumbled through the room. "Please take your things and go wait outside for the remainder of the class."

Rose turned to him. "Are you serious? Since when is there anything wrong with asking questions?"

"Your attitude is what's wrong." He pointed to the door. "Go."

A silence heavier and deeper than when Janine told her story descended over everyone. Slinging her backpack over he shoulder, she crossed the short distance to the door refusing to make eye contact with her mother as she stalked out of the classroom.

The remainder of the period consisted of students asking questions and the guardians answering them. I was to surprised to hear some of the schools guardians speak up and ask their questions. I stayed silent, thinking of how much trouble Rose was going to be in with Janine. No one I knew had the courage to stand up to her that way. I was even afraid of her.

Five minutes before class ended Janine excused herself from the room. I wouldn't doubt that it was to talk to Rose. I stretched my hearing to the door, hoping to catch somewhat of their conversation.

At first their voices were calm and stern. But toward the end of the conversation their voices--mainly Rose's--rose to a shout. I flinched, it was one thing to yell at Rose, and another to be Janine Hathaway and yell at her.

The bell rung then, I took my time getting out of the class room. Knowing one of Rose's friends would comfort her, in some way. I knew I couldn't knew I shouldn't even think about it, but there it was. The feeling of wanting to pull her into my arms and whisper that everything will be alright.

I pushed that painful image away. Repeating over and over as I made my way to the gym it's the right thing.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Thanks for reading! Please coment and vote telling me how I did on this chapter! I greatly appreciate the support that all of my fans have given me throughout the past (: without ALL of you guys I wouldn't have writen the second book, let alone made it this far (: so thanks!

<3LittleDhampir18