To Be a Belikov (Vampire Academy Fan Fiction Book 3)

Chapter 10: A Sunrise

Chapter 10: A Sunrise

I felt like a kid again, standing in the doorway. This office had been a prison, sanctuary, and off-limits hideaway on so many occasions; how was I ever going to make it mine?

Alberta sat behind the desk, her face lighting up in a smile at the sight of Dimitri and me standing in her doorway. I could remember quite a few occasions where we'd been in the same positions for extremely different reasons, and now I'd be inheriting her throne.

Guardian Rosemarie Belikov-Hathaway, Captain of the Academy Guardians.

"Come inside then, Guardian Belikov," she said with a small smile.

Nudging me forward, Dimitri continued in and scooped Annessa up, placing her on his lap as he took a seat, while I sat in the other blood red chair. I caught the playful glare Alberta shot at Cassie and smirked as my friend reluctantly closed the door behind us, returning to her desk.

Sitting on the edge of the chair, I said, "Thank you, Guardian–"

"My colleagues may call me 'Alberta,' Rosemarie," she interrupted. "We'll be working very closely; we may as well get comfortable."

I nodded, my hands placed firmly in my lap. It was taking all my will power not to fidget with my fingers. "Alberta, then."

She returned the nod and stood from her desk. "You and I will be making rounds with the staff, if that's alright. I want to show you the campus updates and the Guardian building. The other office there has been cleared out and is ready for you to move in."

Dimitri cleared his throat, Annessa's eyes wide as she stared between Alberta and I. Settling my shoulders back, I answered in my most professional voice, "That sounds great. Is the staff–"

"They've been warned to behave," she smirked in return. Her eyes softened as they flickered from me to Dimitri and my daughter; with a hint of a smile, she said gently, "Welcome to the Academy, Belikovs."

I looked to Dimitri who gave me an encouraging smile.

"Let's get started," I said, the strength echoing in my voice.

Cassie returned and went with Dimitri and Annessa, escorting them to the teacher who would be evaluating my daughter. I wanted to go with them; every instinct in my body told me I needed to be there, but Alberta led me the opposite direction. I had to get used to being away from them for work.

We toured the campus, though the modifications were nothing major. The buildings were still the same, just with more technology and more cameras to monitor the students. It hadn't changed much since my days as a student; if anything, my experience with sneaking around gave me the upper hand now that I was in charge of security.

But, I knew Alberta was showing me more than just the campus. There were students down every hall and lounging in the lobbies of buildings, all of whom stared at me with wide eyes. I honestly didn't think I looked too intimidating, though Alberta demanded respect; I could only hope to do the same as I took her place.

We were walking across the court yard back to the Moroi administrative building as the sun began to peak over the horizon. The rays played on my skin, warming me in a way that made me miss the sunshine more than usual. As we got near the building, Alberta suddenly stepped to the side and easily trotted up a staircase running alongside the brick wall. Without question, I followed after her, my breath catching in my throat as we reached the top of the building.

I'd never been up here before, not in all my years of the Academy, which was definitely saying something with how often I roamed the campus. The roof wasn't anything spectacular; just an open ledge that faced the campus and all its gothic buildings. But that wasn't what Alberta was looking at.

I could hear my heart pounding as I looked out at the horizon. The school grounds were lit with the magic glow only a sunrise can offer, and the land stretched unimpeded for miles outside the protective gates of the school. You could see everything from up here; every corner and every chipping brick. It was the most beautiful way to look at the Academy.

"This is yours now, Rose," Alberta said from beside me as her gaze followed mine.

I turned my eyes to her and I could see all of the strength this job took; it was in every muscle of her body, from her tongue to her light feet. It was a strength she was passing on to me.

"All of this and every student here is yours to protect," she continued, her gaze still on the land before us. "It's one of the hardest jobs; harder than beating Strigoi or pleasing that Queen of yours. This is where all of the real-world responsibility begins and it's your job to make sure the drama can continue on for another generation."

My eyes were glued to her as she stopped speaking and finally met my gaze. "I'm not good at teaching, Alberta," I said quietly, but held her stare. "I've never been good at teaching."

"That doesn't matter. You're going to be great at this not because you're the best, but because you know what these students need for life after the Academy. I expect you to prepare them for it," she added with a tiny smirk. "I expect you to teach them every single thing you wish we would have taught you."

"Sleeping with the teachers is encouraged then?" I quipped and got a chuckle out of her.

"We need more Guardians like you and Dimitri, Rose," she continued in her serious voice. "I will always be against how it started, but you two are it. You are what every Dhampir wants and should be."

"We're far from perfect," I retorted quietly, pulling my eyes from her.

"Perfect is never the goal, Rose," she answered. "Remember that."

I wrapped my arms around myself and continued to stare at the sun as it peaked further over the edge of this world, shedding light into all the shadows of my new home. This was it, I realized; this was Alberta's way of introducing me to what was now mine.