What about us: Vampire Academy

The Palace. Chapter 41.

Dimitri POV

Aggie and I reached the Palace's private road at 07:30am as per Croft instructions. The Palace is hidden away within its own small woodland, with nothing but the road weaving through the trees. The sun had now risen in the sky but through the thick trees, the rays of early sunlight barely broke through. I glanced out my side window, it was dark enough for Strigoi to still be hiding in the trees.

Swallowing my concerns, I continued to follow the road. The forest thinned a little, and through it I could see the walls and huge iron gates.

Pulling up at the check point, I lowered my window as the Human Guard approached the car.

"Names?" He barked in Russian.

"Dimitri Belikov and Aggie Muluka for Leonid Popov." I replied.

"Follow the road on the left. It will take you to the Palace parking." He instructed then moving back to his gatehouse looking as miserable as sin.

"He's a cheerful chap." Aggie snorted.

"I bet he is bored out of his skull." I turn left. "I'm surprised they have Human's guarding the place."

"Budget? Or they didn't want to use Guardians to guard an empty building it wou-."Aggie looked up at the building before her and gasped.

I couldn't blame her, the Palace had striking white walls, that were glowing softly and the towers behind it was so tall, it seemed about to touch the clouds. At the front, stone arches spanned the width of the building, one above the other, and from each arch hung a curtain of stone. A wide staircase led up to a pair of open grand doors.

We parked up next to the only other car, climbed out and started up at the magnificent building before us.

"It’s beautiful," Aggie breathed.

I laughed softly. "It is, isn’t it? Doesn't look like a battle ground."

"I suppose, it's going to get damaged." She said sadly, eyeing the detailed statues.

"Yes." I admitted regretfully.

Aggie tensed as a figure in a blue suit appeared in the doorway. The Human man paused, then strode down the stairs and walked towards us with a raised hand.

"Mr Belikov and Miss Muluka. I'm Leonid Popov from Russian heritage but please call me Leo." He greeted in English, giving both of us a weedy handshake. Tall, slim with thick glasses on his long nose, his whole assemble was weedy. "My boss has instructed me give you a tour of the Palace. I believe you are going to hold a large function."

"Yes around 400 people." I answer, the less the humans knew the better.

"Well you will definitely have room." He chuckled, waving at the size of the place. "I am glad it's finally being put to use. The current owner has employed my company to keep the Palace clean and undertake any repairs, but it sadden me that they keep it private and not open for the public to see."

"Yes, it's a shame. It's so beautiful." Aggie said sincerely.

"Shall we proceed then?" Leo asked, clearly pleased that Aggie was in awe of the place. "The Ponyatno Khorosho Palace was build in 1770 by Catherine the Great, Empress of all Russia. She came to power following a coup d'état that overthrew her husband Peter III. Under her reign, Russia grew larger, its culture was revitalised, and it was recognized as one of the great powers worldwide.

Catherine built this Palace to demonstrate her stronghold of all regions of Russia but to also promote art, music and education...".

I slowly drowned Leo out and fell a step behind him and Aggie. The grounds are open, which a will be useful for a open battle, and they are enclosing with a large thick wall. Assuming the wall has been well cared for and is intact, the Strigoi coming from the woods will have to file in through the gates. That will gives us a advantage. We could have groups of Guardians picking off Strigoi as they came through the gates. If we were overthrown, we have the room for open battle. This will be our front line.