Vampire Academy DPOV

Chapter Nine

So now we see a made up training session, right after the Jesse incident. Please be nice with your critisim, I write in Dimitri's voice how I think he would act not how he might ACTUALLY act.           

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                                                                              Chapter  Nine

Rose surprised me when it came to her training. She arrived on time and the look of determination on her face never faltered. I had to say, I was impressed. Her new attitude to training got Alberta’s attention and she once again complimented me on Rose’s progress.

What happened the other day hadn’t been at all pleasing to see. But what was pleasing, was the way Rose had acted at our training sessions from then on. Something had clicked in her mind; she was now showing her true potential. She wanted to be Vasilisa’s guardian. It was in every punch, kick and block that came out of her.

A fire seemed to burn within her, one that kept on getting brighter. My harsh criticism about the situation with Jesse was the obvious reason for this change in her normal attitude, she seemed almost afraid to disappoint me again. However, I knew once the embarrassment from the other day dimmed the fire within her would to. I was going to take advantage of it whilst it lasted; there was no doubt about that. I had her working harder than ever before. In times like these, I knew she’d make good progress.

“You need to be faster.” I emphasised. Rose glanced back at me, a determined look on her face. A bead of sweat trickled down the side of her face. She was working hard, using too much strength too soon. She wouldn’t be able to strike her target with all her strength if she spent all her time dodging. She had to be making more blows. “Stop avoiding the target and focus on its weak spots.” She frowned at my words but nodded, turning back to the practise dummy. Patiently waiting for my command.

“You’re alone,” I began. She had her hands by her side, eyes closed, ready to imagine the situation I was about to give her. “It’s your day off. You’ve just finished eating out with a couple of friends. You’re walking down the street in your heels. It’s cold out,” I paused, giving her time to get an image in her mind. “You forgot your jacket and you know the sun’s nearly set. You decide to turn into an alley, thinking it could be a shortcut.”

“There’s no one in sight. You make a quick decision and keep making your way down it. You walk quickly- just in case.” Her eyes squeezed tight and her arms were crossed over. She could easily picture herself walking down the alley in heels and a dress. “Halfway down the alley someone appears out of nowhere, you tense. The person doesn’t look like a threat but you keep your distance. Picking up the pace.” I’d give her one object to fight before moving on to two, I decided.

“As you get closer, you see it’s a girl. She looks up, her hungry red eyes looking right into yours and just as your heart starts to race, she attacks.” I paused, Rose’s breathing was laboured. She seemed to let her emotions go in our training sessions; she was interesting to train with. “Go!” I commanded.

Her eyes instantly flick open and she lunges towards the practise dummy, using a sequence of moves I’d shown her at the beginning of the lesson. After a minute I told her to stop so I could give her another situation. She closed her eyes again but this time I quickly got up, silently making my way over to the practise dummy. Two or three feet from where Rose was standing.

“Don’t open your eyes.” I warned. A small smile came across her face.

“Should I be scared comrade?” she joked.

“No. Just be ready.” I shook my head in amusement. I wheeled the dummy behind her, and she kept her eyes closed. I then moved back into position, which was three metres away from her.

“This time you’re with Vasilisa.” Rose stiffened. Her body became tense and her fists clenched. Now with a moroi’s life on her hands, it was a serious threat. “You’re assessing the dangers of the alleyway but after Vasilisa complains she’s tired and wants to go home you decide to risk it. You’re both walking down and you see a male strigoi has just finished feeding off of a human girl.” Rose grimaced, I’d seen this situation many times out in the real world.

“Vasilisa screams, frightened. And the Strigoi looks up and smiles, advancing towards the both of you.” The look on Rose’s face was menacing she couldn’t wait to open her eyes. Little did she know that I would be the one playing as the ‘strigoi’ not the practise dummy. “Go!” I commanded. Rose’s eyes flick open, her face fierce yet determined. There was a moment of hesitation when she saw me charging towards her but she shook it off, waiting for me to reach her.

She crouched in front of the dummy- taking a defensive stance. As I came closer, I let my instincts take over, I was acting as a strigoi now. I had a part to play. I finally reached her and tried to land a blow to her shoulder which she managed to block. She then kicked me, however I was unfazed. I attacked again and again, and landed a couple of blows on her.

She never faltered though and when she finally moved from the dummy, hoping to end the fight and dispatch me, I landed a blow on her arm and side stepped her. Lunging for the dummy, I grabbed it by the neck and pretended to snap it. Rose screamed and landed a blow to the side of my stomach. One a bit lower than necessary. I winced and another blow landed on my other side, just as low. I pushed the dummy over since it was supposed to be ‘dead’ and turned around to face Rose, who looked distressed. An intense emotion was in her eye. Fear. Horrifying fear. It startled me.

“Don’t.” She said, soft as a whisper.

“Don’t what?” I asked, looking at her intensely.

“Leave Lissa out of this.” She looked away, heartbroken.  “I’m not ready to defend her yet.” She said, looking defeated.

“I know. But you will be. You need to learn to defend as well as attack. I wanted to try out defending today because I knew you’d do better if you were imagining it was Vasilisa.” I explained. Rose looked at me understandingly but she was still angry.

“But I lost. You killed her.” She said, confused. “I didn’t do any better.”

“I know. But it’s a start. You’ll improve, and when you learn technique you’ll be able to protect her. I know you will.” She nodded. “Lessons over, see you after school.” She turned around and got her stuff before starting towards the door.

“And Rose...” she glanced back at me, raising an eyebrow. “Good job today.” She nodded, her expression hard, and left the room. Although she’d lost the fight, I knew she’d stay determined and train harder after school. And that’s what I’d wanted all along, to see emotion in her fighting.

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A boring chapter but it was necessary to add in. :)