Takes place just after Rose sees Mason's ghost in the beginning of Shadow Kiss.

Chapter One

The keys trembled in my hands as I tried to unlock the door. Had that really been Mason? I couldn't get his sad face out of my mind. So, so sad.

It was just an illusion, I told myself. Probably from lack of sleep. If only Christian and Lissa didn't keep me up so late. Like indirect insomnia or something.

I unlocked the door but before I could open it a hand grabbed my arm and jerked me away. "What the he - "

A hand was slapped over my mouth. "Don't speak, girl," an unfamiliar voice told me. The size of the hand and the voice told me I was currently in the grip of a man. And with how hard he was holding my arm, a strong one. Probably a dhampir. "Come with me."

I tried to protest, but I couldn't get any sound out. I gripped the man's arm and tried to pull it away from me, but he was strong. Stronger than I was. He'd been trained for a while.

We walked - well, he walked and I was dragged - to the outskirts of the campus where the wards were. My eyes widened. I was being kidnapped! At least I knew I wasn't being kidnapped by Strigoi. But why would a dhampir want to kidnap me? What had I done?

I suddenly wished I was still talking to Dimitri. Maybe then we could have fought off whoever this person was. He was going to be worried sick. I definitely did not want to be this guy when Dimitri released his fury on him.

After a few miles of my feet being dragged mercilessly on the hard ground of the Montana woods, there was a road and a dark vehicle. I could tell it was specially made for Moroi passengers. I glared at the man as he took his hand off my mouth to tie my hands together.

"Who are you?" I spat at him. "Where are you taking me? The school's going to be so pissed - "

He slapped me. The God damn asshole slapped me! And it hurt too. At least I could see what he looked like now. He actually wouldn't be bad-looking, if he wasn't kidnapping me. He was probably in his early thirties or late twenties with short blond hair and blue eyes. He didn't look like your average kidnapper.

I stayed silent but glared daggers at him as he pushed me inside the car and then got in the driver's seat himself. I had a sense of deja vu from when me, Mason, Eddie, Mia, and Christian had been kidnapped. Except that had been with Strigoi and I'd had my friends around. Now it was with a dhampir and it was only me.

For some reason, I wasn't terrified like I should've been. I knew that when I got the opportunity I would fight for all I was worth, though he was stronger than I was. Maybe I didn't have such a good chance of survival.

We drove for what seemed like hours. Eventually, I began to drift off. Being deprived of sleep was beginning to have its toll on me. I tried to stay awake so I wouldn't lose my window of opportunity, but basic instincts took over and I fell asleep.

"I wonder where Rose is. She usually doesn't miss out on breakfast."

I realized extremely quickly that I was not in my own body. I was in Lissa's, connecting with her through our bond. She sounded worried, but not so worried that she needed to send out a search party to look for me. I wanted to scream at her to get Dimitri or Alberta or somebody, but she couldn't hear me. Our bond was only one-way.

"Probably sleeping in," Christian suggested. I could tell that he could sense Lissa's worry and he wanted to help her. Good Christian. "We all know how Rose likes her sleep."

"But she likes her food, too," Lissa countered. She nibbled on her toast for about ten minutes but when I didn't turn up her worry increased. "Maybe we should go check on her. Class starts in ten minutes."

"Moroi aren't allowed in dhampir dorms," Eddie reminded her. "And class starts for you in ten minutes. Rose and I have to go to the gym to find out who our Moroi for the field experience will be."

"Right!" Lissa exclaimed, surprised she had forgotten. So was I. Stupid kidnapper. I was going to miss it! "Make sure you tell me if Rose is there."

"I will," he promised. "She's probably already there anyway. I should be going now too."

Instead of witnessing the rest of Lissa's breakfast, I was slapped - literally - back into my own body. The blonde was glaring at me. "Get out of the car."

I tilted my head to the side and lifted up my tied hands. "I could use a little help, you know. That's the least you can do after kidnapping me."

Blonde was not a gentle guy. He took my hands and yanked me out of the car. If it wasn't for my awesome balance I probably would have face-planted into the dirt. Huh, dirt. I looked around, scrunching my eyebrows when I didn't recognize our surroundings. Blonde yanked me again, telling me nonverbally to get moving. I glared at him before following him. What choice did I have? I followed until we reached a small blue house and Blonde knocked on the door.

"We're here, Mr. Dashkov," Blonde called.

Mr. Dashkov. Everything inside of me froze as the name Victor Dashkov ran through my mind. He had kidnapped Lissa and abused her powers months ago, but he'd gotten arrested. What was he doing here? When Blonde opened the door and brought me into the living room, I saw a man with jet black hair and green eyes so similar to Lissa's sitting on the couch, healthy and clean. My heart nearly stopped beating.

"Victor," was the only thing I could say.

I hadn't been terrified before, but now I was. I was helplessly standing in front of the infamous Victor Dashkov - who, I now noticed, was surrounded by four unfamiliar guardians - and unable to do anything about it. Maybe if my hands were free I could've done something, but they weren't.

"Rosemarie," he said, a delighted smile on his face. I wanted to rip that smile right off. "It's so good to see you again."

"What the hell are you doing?" I seethed angrily. "You're supposed to be in jail."

"Ah, I was, Rosemarie. Jail is not a fine place to be." He shook his head, but the smile stayed. "Fortunately, my loyal friend Michael was there to see me out. Gregory, go get Mike for me please."

The guardian obeyed without question. I struggled to free my hands but to no avail. I was trapped. Even if I somehow managed to free them, there was still Victor and his guardians to worry about. So I only clenched my fists and glared, hiding the absolute terror I felt deep inside.

But the terror I felt for Victor was nothing compared to what I felt when the next man entered the room, followed by Gregory. Pale skin. Red-ringed eyes. Fangs. I recognized all those traits.

"Meet Michael, Rosemarie," Victor said happily. "We've been friends for a very long time. His sacrifice was not in vain. He will be the one to help save the Moroi, and you're going to help, Rose."

"I will never help you!" I shouted, struggling even harder now. Blonde didn't like this apparently and hit me over the head.

"Don't hurt her, Jackson," Victor told Blonde. At least now he had a name, not that he deserved one. "She's very valuable."

"If you think I'll do anything in your favor, you're wrong," I spat. "This is probably just some trick to get to Lissa, isn't it? You kidnapped me to get to her. You bastard! You will never get Lissa! I'll never tell you where she is!"

Victor merely chuckled, like I was a four-year-old with a temper. "Rose, I don't want Vasilisa. I've discovered something far better, and that's you." He stood up and started pacing in front of me. "Of course, Vasilisa's powers could always be useful, but that's not the current point. Psychic powers don't just belong to spirit users, you know, though it comes more natural to them. It comes natural to you too, Rose."

"You're crazy," I snapped. "I'm not psychic."

He smiled. "But you are, Rose. Near-death experiences do lots to people. Actually dying does more. Not only are you shadow-kissed and can interact with the dead - "

"Interact with the dead?" I interrupted. My mind immediately went to Mason's sad face only hours ago. "What the hell do you mean?"

"You can see and talk to the dead. Your own people, Rose. Anybody can do it with the right practice and skill, but it comes natural to you the more you get involved with Death."

"How am I useful to you?" My voice was deadly, like I could start spitting fire any minute. I felt like I could.

"Dying has had a long-lasting effect on you. You and Lissa are much alike. You may not have spirit, but you can learn the same skills as her. Anyone can do it. With effort, you can learn what spirit-users do naturally."

"You're lying. Only spirit-users can be psychic."

Victor laughed. "I'm many things, but not a liar. You're psychic abilities will help me to finally show the Moroi who the true ruler should be."

"Even if it were possible," I retorted, "I would never help you. Never. If you wanted somebody, why didn't you kidnap Lissa again?" At least then I could find her, just like last time.

"Because unlike Vasilisa, your abilities won't take a toll on you." He snapped his fingers. "Now, enough babbling. Let's get to work."

"I'm not going to help you," I protested. "I said - "

"Michael," he ordered. "Now."

I blinked. What? The Strigoi stood in front of me, a cold smile on his lips. How could a Moroi have control over an undead vampire? It was unheard of. No, it wasn't, I realized. That was what he'd planned on doing with Natalie before Dimitri killed her. This guy must be really loyal to him.

I struggled to get away, realizing what he was going to do, but Michael grabbed my face between his hands, forcing me to look into his eyes. This was really bad. Moroi could use compulsion, but only on humans. A Strigoi's compulsive abilities were a thousand times stronger, even strong than Lissa or Adrian's. There was no way I was going to be able to fight this off.

"You will forget everything," the vampire hissed, though it still sounded somewhat hypnotic. "Everything about your life. Victor Dashkov is your father, your savior. Your name is Rosemarie Dashkov. When you were just a little girl, Victor saved you after your family abandoned you."

Michael's eyes were hypnotizing. I could now see the blue that the red rings hid. All of his words made sense. Victor was my father, at least as close as one could be without being related. He has saved me when my blood whore of a mother and asshole father had left me.

"You love him as a daughter loves his father and are completely devoted to him. He saved you. He is your savior. You will do anything for him to repay him for what he did for you. You feel no hate towards him and will forget everything else. Past memories will be replaced with loving memories of Victor."

Michael stepped away from me. At first, I was completely disorientated. Had something just happened? What happened? What's that strange hum in the back of my head? Worry? What happened? Where am I? I glanced over at the Strigoi and then at my father.

"Dad?" I said, confused. I felt like something just happened but I wasn't sure what. "Dad, what happened? I feel..."

Dad chuckled, pale green eyes alight. "Don't worry, daughter. Everything's fine. You must've hit your head outside."

"Oh." That made sense. My head did kind of hurt. I really needed to be more careful. "Okay."

"We're going to start your training, Rosemarie," my father told me, clapping his hands excitedly. "You are all dismissed."

My training! I'd forgotten about it. I was actually a little excited, since Dad had told me most dhampirs didn't get this kind of opportunity. I was so lucky. He was going to train me to be a sort of psychic warrior, one who will finally help him fulfil his dream of helping the Moroi world in the way it needed to be helped. Why my dad had ever lost his title I didn't know.

Dad led me into the dining room, where on our long table was a pencil. He gestured to it. "I will first teach you how to use your telekinetic abilities. Try to move the pencil."

I was confused, but if Dad said to do it, it had to be important. I focused on the pencil, unsure of what I was doing, and tried to make it move. When nothing happened after a few moments, I sighed and looked at my dad.

"I'm sorry, Dad. It's not moving," I said apologetically.

"It's okay, Rosemarie," he said with a smile. "Just focus all your energy and concentration on it."

I did, concentrating as hard as I could like Dad had taught me. I let nothing else distract me. Soon, I noticed it budge a little and it turned on its side. My eyes widened.

"I did it Dad! I did it!"

"Good job, daughter," he praised me excitedly. "Now let's do it again."

We practiced for another hour before Dad had me move on to something called "remote viewing" where I could see things happening like I was somewhere else. After successfully being able to report who Uncle Michael was feeding off of - something I found a little unsettling - Dad told me it was dinner time. I decided to tell him about the strange emotions in my head.

"Don't worry about it, Rosemarie," he told me, smiling. "That usually happens to special people like you. You can feel emotions."

"I don't really like it," I admitted. "It feels strange. Like I'm invading somebody's privacy. Is there a way to get rid of it?"

"Of course there is," my father answered. "There's a way to get rid of everything."

"How?"

"Uncle Michael will be able to help. He should be back after dinner."

After eating a nice steak and conversing with the guardians, Uncle Michael came home. Dad led me to him.

"Rosemarie still has the bond with Vasilisa," my dad said. I was confused. "Make her forget about it or something."

"What bond? Who's Vasilisa?" I asked, panicking. I didn't know what was happening. Dad always told me what was happening and what to expect. I wasn't good at situations like these.

Uncle Michael turned to me. "Look into my eyes, young Rosemarie." I did. "You will forget about the bond and you will be unable to feel its effects."

I suddenly wondered why I was standing in front of Uncle Michael and Dad. Shouldn't I be in bed? According to the sun which was peeking through the curtains, I should have been. So should everyone else.

"I guess I should be going to bed," I said. "I love you, Dad."

"Love you too, Rosemarie."

How you like? I thought this was a pretty good idea. And don't worry, we'll still be able to look through the bond to find out what's happening ;) Just wait and see. Review, please!