265This is my very first fanfic. Please bear with me. I'd love some constructive criticism so please review!
I was awoken by the ringing of my cell phone. Since it was my day off, I considered not answering it, quickly rethinking that idea on the off chance it could be my boss. My boss, Ibraham "Abe" Mazur, is not the kind of man that should or could be ignored. If he wanted something from you, he got it by whatever means necessary. That's why he is my boss instead of my charge.
The notorious Abe Mazur is also a moroi, one of 3 kinds of vampires in my world, the good kind of vampire. Moroi wield the ability to specialize and control one of the 4 elements: water, fire, air, and earth. The living vampires. They don't kill for the blood that they require to live. Moroi live off of the blood of well treated, yet very addicted, feeders. Feeders are humans that willingly offer their blood in exchange for the high that they feel from the bite of a moroi.
Among the moroi world, there are 12 royal families. Generally, royalty equates to power; for Abe, this is not the case. Abe is the most powerful moroi in the world aside from Queen Tatiana, herself, but Abe is in no way royalty. Abe was simply a business man and was often referred to as Zmey, or Serpant. It's actually fitting if you look to his family crest; it is a Cobra.
I quickly masked the sleepiness I was feeling with my thick Russian accent as I answered the phone.
"Belikov."
"Mazur's office. 1 hour. Pack your bags. Details will be given upon arrival."
The rushed voice on the other end belonged to Pavel, Abe's half brother and head guardian. All guardians, such as myself, are dhampirs, the second kind of vampire. Well, half vampire. Dhampirs don't drink blood like moroi, but they inherit traits from the moroi such as good health, exceptional strength and speed, and fondness of the night. Dhampirs are born when a moroi has a child with a human, which was deemed taboo long before I was born, or a dhampir, which usually results in a single dhampir mother and a fatherless dhampir child. Unfortunately, dhampirs cannot reproduce amongst themselves due to biological incompatibilities. Dhampirs are taught to become guardians and protect moroi with our lives, simply to keep our race from becoming extinct. They come first. That's just how we live.
Just as quickly as the conversation began, it was finished. I got out of bed and grabbed a shower. It was not unusual for me to be sent on spur of the moment missions considering the fact that I'm the best guardian around. By the time I was 16, I had surpassed every guardian instructor at the academy that I attended. I graduated a year early and was sent to Court to 'attempt' to further my education. Soon after, I surpassed even the Queen's personal guardians.
My name is Dimitri Belikov.
I had showered, gotten dressed, and packed my bags in about 38 minutes, my best time yet. Since I started working for Abe, I've learned to travel light. Only the necessities: my weapons and 2 changes of clothes, one casual outfit and one guardian uniform.
My guardian uniform consisted of sleek black pants that are easy to fight in, a white under shirt, and an unusually thin black jacket. All three were made with an abundantly soft material that is resistant to most wear and tear, keeps me warm in cold weather and cool in warm weather, and is supposed to be flame retardant. Although, I've never tested that last one.
Every guardian is given the option to add a small symbol on the right breast area of their jacket. Most guardians choose to have the crest of their charge's family, in order to show their loyalty to their Moroi.
Well, as for my symbol, it's blank. I've battled my internal self many times trying to decide on my symbol, but I can not bring myself to decide. Even knowing that I could change my symbol later if I so desired, I could not decide.
I was offered a chance to be the head of all guardians and the Moroi Queen's personal guardian, until Queen Tatiana found out that I could not commit to her family crest being my symbol. my mother taught me honor and with that, I decided to only ever commit to ONE symbol on my guardian uniform.
The walk to Abe's office was a short one. I arrived 15 minutes early and was promptly let in his office. Abe's office was fairly large, easily fitting the numerous book shelves, a large flat screen TV, several chairs, a couch and a large solid oak desk. Noting that there was only 6 people already in the room, I moved forward to address Abe. Before I had the chance to speak, I was cut off by the only female in the room, who to my surprise, was a guardian. I was caught by surprise because she was so small, maybe 5 foot tall, and though it was obvious that she was normally thin, she was at least 6 months pregnant. She has fiery red hair with an olive skin tone, and despite her belly, she wore a guardians uniform.
"Is this all of them, Abe? Do you really think that only 4 of them could protect them until they return to the academy? " she sounded pissed but she kept her emotions off of her face.
"Janine, dear, I'm sending my best to watch over the girls. Nothing or no one will be able to touch them, much less harm them. I'm sending 4 so that rotations can be kept up and no one has the ability to slack off," Abe smoothly replied.
The female guardian, Janine, looked at though she was going to explode. I tensed, not knowing how to handle the situation on hand. That's when Pavel spoke.
"Guardian Hathaway, we need to start this meeting. The longer we stand here while you bicker with Abe, the longer your daughter and the Dragomir Princess are without protection."
I had heard about the Princess, the last Dragomir, running away from the academy a few months back. I also knew she had run away with a novice, a guardian in training, who had no way to protect the Princess in times of danger.
I spoke before I realized it.
"Have the Dragomir Princess and her friend been located?"
Abe spoke after a quiet moment.
"One of my contacts spotted them in Portland and managed to get me the address where they are residing. He is keeping an eye on them in case they move, but they are still in danger. That's where you come in, Belikov. Well, you, and your team."
I looked beside me at the other 3 guardians and instantly recognized them as 3 of the best men in Abe's mass of guardians. I recalled their names being Jeremy, Paul, and Alex.
Abe handed a folder to each of us and started speaking again.
"I don't suppose I have to express the importance of this mission. Each of you know that the last Dragomir must be protected at any cost. That being said, I want the novice with her treated the same way. That novice's name is Rosemarie Hathaway. From what I'm told, she prefers the name Rose. The mission is to watch them and protect them, but do NOT let them know you are there. If they know you are there, they will run again. They don't want to go back to the academy and although I don't understand it, I'm going to respect it for now. Belikov, you will be the exception. I've set it up that you will be moving into the apartment with Rose and the Prin-"
"WHAT?!" Obviously Janine did not like that idea.
"Janine, I'm doing this to protect them. Arguing with me will not keep them safe. I know what I'm doing. I believe Belikov is the best choice to implement some type of near guard. Now please, Janine, let me finish."
I was astounded. I've never heard anyone question Abe the way Janine did. Well, at least not without them losing their knee caps.
Abe turned back to me.
"The apartment is set up so that you will share a kitchen and living area with the girls. You will be their guard, NOT their friend, but you will have to gain their trust."
I finally spoke.
"How am I to gain their trust? The novice-"
"Rose. Her name is Rose." Janine said, sounding almost defeated.
I nodded and continued.
"Rose will likely know that I'm a guardian as soon as she sees me. And you said yourself, Abe, that they will run the moment that they think guardians have come to take them back to the academy."
Abe sighed. I knew this was going to be a tough mission.
"Belikov, that's why I've chosen you for this task. You are the greatest guardian there is and I have no doubt that you will make this work."
Everyone was quiet for a moment before Pavel spoke up.
"Perhaps you can pretend to have run away from the Moroi society, just as they have. That would mean giving up your guardian uniform and reverting to always wearing casual clothing."
No one else would say anything. I was lost in thought as to how I would make this work. Perhaps Pavel was right.
"When do we leave? "
"45 minutes. There is a car out front waiting to take you all to the airport. You will arrive this evening. Belikov, don't fail me. The rest of you remember to stay hidden but stay close. I want daily reports. If anything happens to Rose or the Princess while you are protecting them, I will not be kind. Now, go."
And with that, we left and boarded the plane to Portland.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own any of the characters in this story. I only own the plot.
Thank you for reading! please review!