"NO!" I screamed, waking up. I looked around. I was in a hospital. I glanced down. I had gauze up my thin forearm. It was soaked with blood. I heard a door open, and saw a nurse enter.

"Hello, Rose." she said. "Good to see you awake."

"Where are my parents? Lissa?" I asked the nurse, a Moroi, like me.

"I'm sorry, Rose; your parents have passed on."

"What about Lissa?" I asked again.

"She's alive. Asleep in another room." she said.

"Thank, God."

"Go back to sleep, Princess Dragomir."

And I did.


The next time I woke up, Lissa Hathaway, my best friend in the entire world, was next to me. She stood about 5'7" with the curves I wanted so desperately. She had long platinum hair and jade green eyes. She was a Dhampir, a half-human, half-Moroi child, and her mom, Rhea Hathaway, is one of the best guardians out there. She also had a brother named Andre. He'd graduated last year, and was now a full-fledged guardian, too.

"Rose, I'm so sorry." She hugged me. I let the tears escape, and Lissa rubbed my back. In contrast, I was pale with big brown eyes and brown, almost-black hair. I stood a tall 6'3" with slim curves, like most Moroi. My parents are, um, were Prince Ibrahim and Princess Janine Dragomir. We were the last three in one of the twelve royal Moroi families.

And now it was just me.

Alone.

I sobbed harder into Lissa's shoulder.

"How can they be dead?" I cried.

"I don't know, Rose. I don't know."


They released us later that night. Lissa's mother got a leave to take us back to our school, St. Vladimir's in backwoods Montana. It was a (nearly) year round school for Moroi and Dhampirs to stay protected from Strigoi. To clarify, Moroi are mortal vampires that are born, Strigoi are immortal vampires that are made. Moroi had access to the earth's magic (water, earth, fire, air), while Strigoi were bound to eternal night. My mother had been a fire wielder, while my father had wielded air. As of yet, I haven't specialized. I most likely will within the next two years.

"I'm sorry I can't stay longer, and I'm sorry for your loss, Princess, but I must go. And Vasilisa, I'm so glad you're ok. The way they described the crash, you should have died as well."

"Thank you, Rhea." I said.

"Bye, Mom." Lissa hugged her. Rhea turned on her heel and left.

I went to my room leaving Lissa behind. As I found my bed, I prayed I wouldn't dream.