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

Shadow Kiss (Chapter 1)

She ducked down behind a bank of holly trees that flanked the building. They didn’t have any berries. I turned from her then, putting on my mask as I walked up to Alberta, who was standing in the middle of the courtyard. She was dressed in all black: black jeans, black shirt and a black leather jacket.

“You’re not on watch.” I said trying to keep the surprise out of my voice as I stopped a few feet from her.

“No, but I need to talk to you. It’ll just take a minute. We need to shuffle some of the watches while you’re at the trial.”

“I figured.” I said trying to keep Victor’s trial secret from a eavesdropping Rose. “It’s going to put a strain on everyone else---bad timing.”

“Yes, well, the queen runs on her own schedule.” Alberta said frustrated as she ran a hand through her short hair. “Celeste will take your watches, and she and Emil will divide up your training times.”

I knew she was referring to the field experience starting tomorrow. Six weeks of hands-on-practice for the novices. They’d have no classes and would get to protect Moroi night and day while the guardians tested them. “Training times” meant my participation in that.

“They say they don’t mind the extra work,” she continued, “but I was wondering if you could even things out and take some of their shifts before you leave?”

“Absolutely.” I said words short and stiff. I was trying to keep Alberta from saying anything that would tip Rose off. She didn’t need to know about Victor’s trial. It would worry her even more. And knowing her, she would be angrier at the fact that she and Lissa can’t go rather than him being proved innocent. This wouldn’t happen.

“Thanks I think that’ll help.” She sighed. Her face thoughtful. “I wish I knew how long this trial was going to be. I don’t want to be away that long. You’d think it’d be a done deal with Dashkov, but now I hear the queen’s getting cold feet about imprisoning a major royal.”

I had to repress the urge to scream at Alberta then. I would have been fine if she didn’t say Dashkov so loudly. It was as if she knew I was hiding Rose a few feet away. Like she was mocking me about trying to keep it secret from her.

“I’m sure they’ll do the right thing.” I said.

“I hope so. And I hope it’ll only take a few days, like they claim. Look, it’s miserable out here. Would you mind coming into the office for a second to look at the schedule?”

“Sure,” I said as threw my head back in the direction where Rose was hiding. “Let me check on something first.”

She nodded, not bothering to ask what. “All right. See you soon.”

I nodded and waited till she was out of ear shot. I rounded the corner and stood in front of the holly. Rose shot up from her hiding spot. And from the rage on her face I knew exactly what was coming.

“Rose---“

“Dashkov?” She exclaimed her voice raising. “As in Victor Dashkov?”

I didn’t bother to deny it. “Yes. Victor Dashkov.”

“And you guys were talking about…Do you mean…” She was too startled to think correctly. “I thought he was locked up! Are you saying he hasn’t been on trial yet?”

Victor Dashkov was the guy who had stalked Lissa and tortured her mind and body in order to control her powers. Every Moroi could use magic in one of the four elements: earth, air, water, or fire. Lissa, however, worked and almost unheard of fifth element called spirit. She could heal anything---including the dead. It was the reason Rose was psychically linked to Lissa. She had brought Rose back from a car accident that had killed her parents and brother, binding them together in a way that allowed Rose to feel her thoughts and experiences.

Victor had learned long before any of us that she could heal, and he’d wanted to lock her way and use her as his own personal Fountain of Youth. He also hadn’t hesitated to kill anyone who got in his way---or, in the case of Rose and me, use more creative ways to stop his opponents---at least among the living.

Rose face turned from rage to something that said she was about to punch someone. “He’s been locked up---but no, no trial yet. Legal proceedings sometimes take a long time.” I said.

“But there’s going to be a trial now? And you’re going?” She spoke through clenched teeth, her face still had the look of wanting to punch someone.

“Next week. They need me and some of the other guardians to testify about what happened to you and Lissa that night.” My mind briefly flashed back to the night of the charm. Going through the part where Lissa had almost got hurt, and Christian laying in pieces on the forest floor.

“Call me crazy for asking this, but, um, are Lissa and I going with you?”

I knew she wouldn’t like my answer, but I had no choice.

“No.”

“No?”

“No.”

She put her hands on her hips. “Look, doesn’t it seem reasonable that if you’re going to talk about what happen to us, then you should have us there?”

I shook my head. “The queen and some of the other guardians thought it’d be best if you didn’t go. There’s enough evidence between the rest of us, and besides, criminal or not, he is---or was---one of the most powerful royals in the world. Those who know about this trial want to keep it quiet.”

“So, what, you thought if you brought us, we’d tell everyone?” She exclaimed. “Come on, comrade. You really think we’d do that? The only thing we want is to see Victor locked up. Forever. Maybe longer. And if there’s a chance he might walk free, you have to let us go.”

“It’s not my decision to make,” I said.

“But you have influence. You could speak up for us, especially if…” Some of her anger dimmed a little, replaced by fear. “Especially if there really is a chance he might get off. Is there? Is there really a chance the queen could let him go?” She was referring to Alberta’s earlier statement of the queen considering locking up a big royal.

I considered this for a moment. “I don’t know. There’s no telling what she or some of the other high-up royals will do sometimes.” I was tired of this conversation. So in answer I reached into my coat pocket and tossed over a set of keys. “Look, I know you’re upset, but we can’t talk about it now. I have to go meet Alberta, and you need to get inside. The square key will let you in the far side door. You know the one.”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

She walked away from me, and I stood in the snow watching her. I sighed and called out to her. I didn’t want her to think I was some mean teacher. “Rose?” She glanced back. “I’m sorry,” I said and then paused. My regret fading as I apologized. “And you’d better bring the keys back tomorrow.”

She turned away and kept going.