We Are Shadows

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

RPOV

Three weeks have gone by and Lana still hasn't returned. We had heard nothing as to why she was gone or when she would be coming back. I hope everything was OK but I was really missing her academically. I'm not usually one for missing school work but I was finding some of the explanations in the text books confusing and could really do with her input. I didn't like to disturb anyone else with this as they already had so much to do.

Arrgh I give up. I slammed the text book shut and threw my pen down onto the table. I think I might go beat the crap out of a gym bag for a while maybe the answer will come to me. I quickly got changed and headed out the door. I got to the gym and found it blissfully empty. There had been times when other guardians have been using the facilities. Luckily they just think I'm a relative of a staff member, a cover story Roman thought up, so they leave me alone to do my thing but at those times I have to be careful with my movements as not to get their suspicions up. I pulled my gloves on and got to work on the nearest punch bag.

After twenty minutes I was showing the bag no mercy. I was punching, kicking, twisting and dodging but still my heart-rate was only a couple of counts above resting pace. What do I need to do to feel my heart pump? I used to love the feeling of my heart-rate being elevated. It felt like I had accomplished something, now it barely registers. Even when sparring with Dimitri it doesn't go up much but I don't know if that's even to do with the exercise or just a reaction to him. When his skin brushes against mine I feel a fission of energy jolt through me and I think he does too because his face hardens as if to ignore the sensation. I don't care that he doesn't like the feeling I'm just glad he is no longer hostile. In fact we had been getting on quite well, much to Roman's relief and Klara's I think, because since Dimitri and I started eating together her schedule has become less hectic.

I attacked the bag with renewed vigour as if it was personally responsible for my uncooperative heart.

"Woah! What did that bag do to you?" I turned around to see the last person I ever thought to see.

"Alberta!" I screeched and ran to hug her tightly.

"Steady there Rose. I need my ribs" she said laughing.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. "Not that I'm complaining but you're breaking one of your own rules."

"Well technically no" she answered. "See I wish I could say I'm here only to see you but I'm not."

"What do you mean?" I asked puzzled.

"Roman has been given a job by Guardian Croft. You remember him?"

"Yeah I remember" I said sullenly. "He didn't like me very much. What job? Are you helping Roman out?"

"Not with the job but he is having to leave the school for a few weeks and instead of entrusting your secrets to just anyone he asked me if I could stand in for him" she replied.

"Ah so people still don't know I'm here then?" I asked and she nodded in agreement. "Who is looking after St. Vlad's?"

"Guardian Alto" and I screwed my face up. "There is nothing really for him to do there. Everyone knows their jobs and rotas so he is just there for show or in case of an emergency."

"I just wouldn't trust him" I said.

"Well neither do I because of his 'relationship' with Ms Kelso but he has seniority" she said.

"Eww, there's an image I can't get rid of" I said shuddering. "Is that how the governors knew about your lesson that day?"

"Yes. I caught them in the filing room a month back" she also shuddered at the image "I put two and two together."