Best I can

Chapter 8

It felt nice being able to catch up with my in-laws or my sisters like they call me. After I had spoken to Karolina, we made our way to where Sonja was teaching her class. Like her brother Sonja always believed that one of the most valuable things that we must learn if we can't defend each other is to run and get help. So she had her students run laps, not many but enough to get their stamina up. Once she saw me, she reacted the same as Karolina and came to greet me. The same questions that Karolina asked she asked again. The same way I reassured Karolina that I was fine the same reply I gave. Knowing my sisters, they would keep a very close eye on me while I was here.

How can I tell them that it was Ekaterina who said to me that they were after something they tried before, me. They tried ten years ago when they attacked the court, yet they didn't have their way. They wanted me to turn me into one of them.

"Is it because of you being a shadow-kissed?"Sonja asked in a low voice.

Ever since spirit became known, others began to do their research and shadow-kissed along with it. More spirit users and their shadow-kissed began to surface as they wanted to interact with people who shared their similarities. But having so many shadow-kissed dhampirs made Strigoi more curious in wanting to turn one of us. They tried numerous times to turn a shadow-kissed dhampir, most wouldn't let them, or they would die before it happened.

"If you have a target on your back, Russia isn't the place you should be in, "Karolina said as she kept a professional face.

" That's why we are leaving bright and early; nothing happens during human hours," I replied.

My sisters looked relieved as they knew, that during human hours were the only time we are truly safe, well at least from what creeps out at night.

" Come walk the perimeter with us," my sisters said.

"Sure" 

We began to walk around the property and admire the view; I can't lie; Russia is magnificent this time around. The academy had a system in which students learn how to walk the perimeter, with a guardian overlooking them, of course. Karolina and Sonja led the way towards the part that they had to watch, the back of the academy. You were able to see three students waiting for instructions.

"Today's shift should be an easy one. Just walk around the perimeter designated, and if you see something suspicious, speak up," Karolina ordered them.

 Everything seemed to go well as the students walked around and made sure everything was going well. My sisters and I made sure that the students knew what to keep an eye out. The shift was done when Sonja dismissed the students; we made our way back to the guardians' building. As we walked through the would that's when I felt, something that I would only feel out the wards, extreme nausea. 

I quickly tensed up, looking at the direction of where I felt nausea. My sisters and I instantly took out our stakes, which got the students on high alert.

"back up," I ordered the students. 

Just like that, strigoi's started running from the left side. My sisters and I kicked into actions taking them out. As we danced around with our targets, the alarm began to sound, indicating that strigoi's are in the academy. My sisters and I quickly took our objectives down and went to help the students.

" Make your way to Lissa"  Eddie said through the headpiece. 

"Make your way back to your buildings and make sure no Moroi are out unless they are willing to fight. Don't stop unless you're directly confronted," Sonja ordered the students, and they quickly parted their ways as we took down the strigoi's' that kept coming. 

"I'm staying to help," my nephew replied as he went for a strigoi by himself. 

Karolina saw her son take a strigoi on his own, and it only made her act faster and finishing her opponent. As a mother, it pained her to see her son fighting something that he shouldn't have to yet. But as a guardian, she felt proud of him for having the confidence in taking one by himself.  By the look of the strigoi, he seemed to be someone whose been turned years ago, but Paul was able to take him down on his own. For sure he was a Belikov. 

We made our way back to the buildings and everything was chaos, from strigoi bodies to fires being started. 

"I need to make sure, the younger children are taken care of, "Sonja said as she parted her way back to the elementary building. 

"Paul go with her" Karolina ordered him. 

Karolina and I made our way back to the headmasters building, and we quickly started helping our colleagues. My team made a defense circle around the entrance as our charge was there. The strigoi were making attempts to come into the building, but one by one, we took them down. The more we took down, the more they came, like waves. 

"Rose, are you okay? Please let me know" Lissa said through the bond. 

I was able to feel her worry, and I knew she would be worried about the entire team. From the bond, I knew exactly where she was. I walked into the room to find Viktoria ready to tackle me down, as soon as she saw me, she relaxed. 

"I'm so glad you're okay," Lissa said as she collided into me. 

"This doesn't seem out of the bloom. We haven't had an attack in years. The only attacks that have been happening are against shadow-kissed dhampirs," the headmaster said as he looked at me. 

" Lissa, I need you to get in contact with the court. They need to come now; we can hold them off until the sun comes up. " I ordered her, and she quickly took her phone out. 

"I need to go back out there," I said, knowing that everyone was putting their life on the line because of me. 

"Do me a favor, don't get caught. Don't let strigoi know it's you they are after," Viktoria said as she embraced me quickly.  

"I need to go," I said as I made my way back downstairs double-checking that everyone inside the building was safe. 

I made my way back outside, kicking back into action, trying my hardest not to rely on what they wanted. I felt the spirit anger getting stronger as I took down each strigoi, yet I tried my best not to let it out. Two of us made our way around to help, making sure the students were alright. Each academy has a system in where in case of an attack, Moroi who hasn't specialized are forced to stay in. But if you have a defensive talent, you are trained to use it to help your guardian. As we passed through we were able to see more fires and less of our own. I had it under control until I saw one strigoi that was in the funeral, who saw me fight he knew who I was. 

"It's her," he yelled as he pointed at me. 

My cover was blown.