29Dimitri rounded the nurse's station. Coming up towards the other student sitting in the waiting area. He wanted to have a talk with Mr. Ashford before he was sent to Kirova's office. More of a warning to not spread what had happened and release the information of Rose, what she is. That wouldn't be good on his end and the school – since they promised discretion. This was Rose life though, her life at the academy and her safety and the safety of others is more important than that secret.
He still couldn't put more into not telling others, it was more than just a secret. It was Roses trust. She put her trust into the academy and him.
"Mr. Ashford." Dimitri spoke softly, still commanding his attention. He taken the seat next to him. Surprised to see a flinch coming from the young novice. "I don't think I have to mention the confidentiality of the situation here." There was a threat there, hopefully Mason wasn't stupid enough to bring it to light. Dimitri rolled his eyes, of course he might bring it up. This was questioning everything Mason believed in.
He shook his head, still quiet. "I still can't believe that was Rose." He stated starstruck.
Smacking the back of Masons head, he cleared his throat in time to see the Masons zoned out expression clear. Great, maybe this will be easier. "Mason, no one is to know about Rose's abilities." He started.
Mason wiped around to face Dimitri. "No, no!" He said, tilting his head – Dimitri asked him to continue. "She has my silence, but." He bit his lip. "Why doesn't she want anyone to know?" It was a simple question, one that Dimitri didn't have the full answer to.
With his arms resting on the chair arms, looking down towards his feet. Trying to ground himself, swinging them slightly as they scuffed the linoleum underneath his feet. Sighing, "that isn't something I can give a full answer to." Side glancing towards Mason, "her and her parents have their reasons to keep quiet about her abilities. There's a back story that I'm not even completely sure of." Sighing again as he ran a hand through his hair – effectively messing up the ponytail that he had at the nap of his neck. "She deserves her privacy."
"Right, right. I guess she can have that."
"So, do I have your word, Mr. Ashford?" He spoke deeply, a hint of a threat to his words.
Nodding franticly, rubbing both hands down the front of his jeans. Grounding his feet and standing, Dimitri followed his lead. Saying goodbye to each other as Mason headed off to his next class.
Dimitri sighed for the thousandth time that morning alone, running his hand through his hair again – making it messier than before. Tilting his head, feeling the cracking as some of the stress went with it. Quickly he undone his hair, combing his fingers through and retied the knot at the nap of his neck before taking to see any progress for Rose.
Dimitri strolled his way through the corridor, making his way toward Headmistress Kirova's office. Dreading the reason for this meeting, it wasn't a good one to begin with. She had heard through others about a fight breaking out and Jesse had run straight to her office to report what had happened before Dimitri could even hand over any report. He had that to look forward to before he had his normal classes, luckily, they had called in a sub for the first parts of his day to deal with any issues that arises.
Folder in hand, he cornered around towards the door to her office, knocking three times before cracking the door open. Peeking through to see if he may enter, cursing slightly – he could never hear her from the other side of the door. Dimitri's eyes land on the other person in the room, inwardly growling before he slipped through the door and waited to be addressed. Hearing the tail end of the conversation.
" – she must be expelled. Or put down." Jesse spat towards Kirova. He slips through the door, not showing any emotion, taking on the persona of bodyguard.
Kirova had a fountain pen in her hands, sliding them between her fingers as she listens to what Jesse was saying. Dimitri a sneaky suspicion that it was a nervous tick of hers. Waiting for him to finish whatever nonsense he was telling. Setting down the pen before taking a slight breath in, "Mr. Zeklos," eyeing him down. "There is no need for such savagery." Putting a hand up to stop him from speaking out. "I'm surprised that you weren't informed about Rose's abilities but that not here or there." A little smirk, picking up her fountain pen – making a quick note. "This issue will be investigated and if there is anything further, we will reach out towards you." Putting the pen down. "Now, you are excused the rest of the day but," seeing him almost fist bump the air. "You are to remain in your dorm until further notice."
"But!" He shot up, getting ready to fight.
"Sit down, Mr. Zeklos." Her tone sharp, no room for questions. "I need you to remain in your dorm until the investigation is over, it is how things are done here." Sliding her chair back a few inches, resting her arms on the rests beside. "If you don't like that avenue that we take, you can return back to your previous school." Standing, leaning her hands on the desk. "Do I make myself clear?" She levelled her eyes on him. He nodded quickly before excusing himself from her office.
Clearing his throat, successfully gaining the attention of the other person in the room. Minus the other guardian to the side of the room that was more of a statue than an addition to the conversation. "Ah, Mr. Belikov." She waved for him to come towards her. "I do hope you could shine some light on what is going on here." Raising an eyebrow towards him, he swallowed the lump that formed in his throat.
Clearing his throat again, while bring a hand to wipe down his face. Sliding the folder, he had with him over the desk to her. She tilted her head at the folder before taking a seat and opening it.
Student Incident Report
School name: St. Vlad's Date: 11/23/12
Student name: Rosemary Hathaway, Jesse Zeklos
Age: 17, 18 Grade: 12th
Incident location: Guardian Gym
Report by: Guardian Dimitri Belikov
Incident Description:
Guardian Belikov came upon a scene shown by Novis Ashford. Entered gym to find Jesse Zeklos cornered by Rosemary Hathaway after she had turned to wolf form. No injuries towards Zeklos. Guardian Belikov and Novis Ashford disarmed Rosemary. Transformed back into human form, Student Zeklos ran from room before anything could happen to him.
Witnesses: Mason Ashford
Resulting Action: Removing Jesse from the scene to cool down Rose before taking her to medical staff.
Recovery: Removal of Jesse Zeklos would be advisory.
Form completed by (printed): Dimitri Belikov
Signed: Dimitri Belikov
"I see." Kirova speaks after scanning the document. "Is Rose still in the clinic?"
"Yes, headmistress."
Dimitri could see the thoughts going through her mind, trying to weigh each option. What the best course of action since this has cause an incident such as this. "Do you know the history with Rose and Jesse?" Dimitri taken the opportunity to take a seat while he thought throw what he did know.
"I'm afraid I don't know much of their history." Starting off, placing a hand on the desk. "I have been trying to get more information out of Rose since she had arrived." Eyeing the incident report, mulling his words over. "She is a closed book, not really into giving out much information." Dimitri ran a hand through his hair, cursing under his breath with messing up the newly made ponytail. "I have had word from Vasilisa, she couldn't get much out either. She hasn't told anyone about her abilities." Nodding once finished.
Kirova sat back, leaning back in her chair. Holding the fountain pen in her hands while she taken in his words. "I would need to contact her parents about what has happened, I hope you know this." It seemed like she was gauging Dimitri's reaction, when he gave none – she pushed forward by pulling out another folder. One that had a specific student's personal information. Dimitri hadn't seen the whole folder, only briefed on the need-to-know bases of this particular student.
She fingered through the notes before pulling closer that landline telephone on her desk, dialling a number before it reaches out and started ringing. Dimitri noted that she had it on speaker phone, normally when she's made calls, she immediately pulls the phone up to take the call.
It continued to ring throughout the whole room, Dimitri had expected it to go to voicemail when a raspy female voice answered the phone. Seeming to be heavy of sleep, Dimitri peaked at his watch – noticing it morning time. Maybe she was a late riser.
"Good morning, Ms. Hathaway." Kirova greeted over the phone. Professional as ever. "May I have a word with you?" They could hear movement over the line as if someone was shuffling out of bed before she confirmed but to give her a moment.
"Alright, what's going on?" Her voice is still raspy from sleep but taken an underlining tone that was standoffish.
"There's a few things I would like to discuss with you," she paused to see if Janine would say anything. "I regret to inform you that there has been an incident with Rosemary," Kirova was cut off by Janine raising her voice over the phone demanding to know what had happened. "I…" Kirova seemed to be a lost for word for a moment. "We wanted to reach out to you before anyone else has, but we don't have the whole story since were waiting to get the story from Rosemary." She drew the paperwork that Dimitri had brought.
"What happened? I was on the phone with Rose a couple hours ago and she just hung up." She spoke out.
Ignoring that for the moment, Kirova move forward. "There was an incident with Rosemary and Jesse. No one was injured, though Rosemary is seeing our doctor just to get her vitals. Guardian Belikov was able to 'cool' her down enough before there was serious injury." She recited what the incident report had said, "I'm just trying to get information to help prevent another scene, especially to keep it away from the student body." Kirova finished up, no room for argument on if she was in the wrong.
"I'm trying to convince Abe to have Jesse removed from the academy." The statement shocked both Dimitri and Kirova. Janine was hesitating like she wasn't sure if she could trust the school. "Jesse and Rose use to date before," seeming to find her own words. "He uh… he attacked her over summer break," Dimitri eye the phone, rage rising. "I wasn't there and I'm not sure everything that had happened but from what she had told me, nothing sexual happened." Dimitri was on the edge of his seat ready to storm out of the room to go to Rose, but he needed to hear what Janine was telling them.
"And why weren't we told about this when you enrolled both Rosemary and Mr. Zeklos?" Kirova voice was tight, a harshness that Dimitri could pick up.
"Rose is…" she paused. "She's private person, and her father doesn't know about what happened."
Dimitri broke his silence before he could stop it. "Janine, it's Dimitri Belikov." Seeming to lose his train of thought before continuing. "Why doesn't her father know about something tragic that has happened? We're putting all of our students in danger with having him here then if he had attack Rose. Were there police involved?" He asked.
Janine seemed taken aback by Dimitri's outburst. He was more abrasive than he had first thought. "Well," she hesitated. "There was a lot that had happened that night, Jesse had seen Rose wolf out. It's like a coping mechanism, a shield that is there to protect her. Nearly killed him before I was able to get to her." She spoke the last sentence quietly. "She's not a bad kid, just had a shit hand dealt to her." Dimitri could tell she was nodding at that. "We knew this alchemist that was able to whip Jesse's memory, taken a week away actually. So, he doesn't remember the night that he attacked her." Sensing the next question. "Her father didn't know they broken up when he enrolled them, thought it would help transition into the academy life if she had her 'boyfriend' there. It was all last minute surprise before we taken the flight over to the academy."
Kirova was quiet during this conversation as Janine explained the history, "Ms. Hathaway, I've heard different things with Rose's abilities and I'm afraid that I don't know the hundred percent truth behind this. So if you'll be kind enough to explain." Janine agreed. "Rose's transformation is a curse of hers?" She asked. Yes. "Did she always have this curse or was it activated?" Dimitri could tell the thought process and it was something that he did wonder while getting to know Rose. Becoming a wolf – either you are born into, and you activate it or you are it without. There were different stories growing up that Dimitri was told, yet he hasn't actually met one.
"Its in her bloodline, from her fathers' side. It did skip two generations; we were not aware of the option of Rose having the purity for it." Kirova and Dimitri waited for her to continue. She exhaled roughly, as if she was preparing for what she was going to say next. "It's activated by your first kill. Of an innocent." She spoke quietly, with both of them straining to hear her words. "She was in a car accident just about two years ago, she almost died. The doctors have no idea how she survived but it's a miracle. The person in the other car wasn't so lucky." She let the words settle over the room. "She still blames herself for it. And shortly after that, she had her first transformation. I was so disappointed when it happened, I'm afraid. I didn't know the other person had died and we didn't know much about Abe's lineage until Rose shown her abilities."
Dimitri was stunned. Confused, he knew that there were things that Rose was hiding from him and the school. That there was tragedy behind her eyes. That she could feel the hurt and understand the pain that he was in on a daily basis. "Do I need to come to the academy?" Janine asked.
Dimitri met Kirova's eyes, seemed to agree on an answer. "That's not necessary, she is being taken care of." Kirova leaned forward. "Is there anything else that we need to know to help Rose?" She asked.
"Uh… If you have a staff member that is able to 'cool' Rose down before she starts transitioning, then keep them close to her." She spoke her peace before saying goodbye and hanging up.
Dimitri met Kirova questioning gaze, "didn't you mention the cooling factors regarding yourself?"
"I did headmistress."
"Good." She smiled. "Stay close to her."