Notes:

Please don't hate me for what you're about to read.

When Rose didn't return in half an hour, Medha woke Eddie. When Rose didn't answer her phone, Medha called for backup. An hour later, a guardian called back with bad news.

The SUV had been found with the keys and food from the gas station inside. The door was unlocked. The tires had been slashed. A hypodermic needle was found on the ground by the driver's door. Rose was nowhere to be seen.

More backup was called to canvas the area.

Two hours after Medha's initial call, Rose's phone and wallet were found.

Rose was gone.

With trembling hands, Medha closed her phone. She looked at Eddie, who was pacing the room. The conversation had been on speakerphone; he had heard everything.

"This can't be happening," he said.

Medha's response was formal and detached. She had to remain calm. "We have to get Lissa and Christian up. We'll leave as soon as backup arrives with a car. They'll pack our belongings later."

"But Rose—"

"Rose is gone." Her voice wavered. "We have no idea who took her or if they know where we are. The first priority is keeping our Moroi safe."

Eddie closed his eyes, squared his shoulders, and drew a steadying breath. "Okay."

Medha walked to the door of Lissa and Christian's room. She tensed as she knocked, hard and loud, before opening the door. "Lissa, Christian, you have to get up. We need to leave shortly."

They both sat up quickly. Fear widened their sleepy eyes.

"What's going on," Christian asked.

Medha kept her tone neutral. "I'll explain when we're on our way. The two of you need to dress. Don't worry about packing."

Christian got out of bed. He wore shorts and nothing else. His black hair was tousled from sleep. "Are we in danger?"

"That's unclear," Medha replied.

Lissa was still sitting in the bed. Her long blonde hair was braided to keep it from tangling in her sleep. She was studying Medha and Eddie standing in the light of the doorway. "Rose?"

Lissa saw them flinch. She threw back the covers and stood. Her silky pink nightgown fell to mid-thigh. Eddie averted his eyes. Fear spiked through Lissa. "Where's Rose?"

Medha shook her head. "We don't know."

"What do you mean? How don't you know?" Lissa's throat felt tight. Where was Rose?

Christian went to Lissa, wrapping his arms around her.

"There's no time to explain," Medha replied. "We need to leave as soon as backup arrives. We aren't safe."

A cell phone rang in the next room. Eddie went to answer it. Medha followed him, closing the door.

Christian embraced Lissa, kissing her on the forehead before letting go. He quickly grabbed pants and a shirt from his bag and put them on. Lissa didn't move.

Christian went to Lissa's bag. He grabbed underwear for her and a dress to throw on over her nightgown. He pressed the clothes into her hands, and she dressed mechanically.

Christian grabbed their phones, his wallet, and Lissa's purse before putting on his sneakers. Lissa found sandals on her own, and they exited the bedroom.

A guardian Christian recognized as being a regular at Court met them at the door to the hotel room. The guardian walked ahead of them, leading them. Christian and Lissa followed. Medha and Eddie guarded them from behind.

The guardian escorted them to a waiting van. Lissa, Christian, and Eddie got in the back. Medha handed their room key to their escort before getting in the passenger seat. A different Court guardian drove them away from the hotel.

"What happened to Rose?" Lissa asked. Panic was in her words. Christian held her hand, trying to soothe her as best he could.

Medha explained everything she knew. She told them that almost three hours earlier, Rose had left to get gas down the street. Afterward, she had gone missing at the gas station, leaving everything behind.

Lissa listened in numb horror. How could Rose be missing? Lissa knew that Rose was still alive. She felt that she would know if the bond broke. Lissa asked questions for a while, but soon there were no more answers. They drove in silence.

Dawn broke as they approached Court. The bright rays of the day were a sharp contrast to the dark spirits of those in the van. They drove directly to the guardian's building. Medha left them to make a report. Lissa, Christian, and Eddie walked to the Dragomir's.

Rhea met them at the door. Her face was lined with worry. Lissa cracked as soon as she saw her mother. She ran into Rhea's arms and began to sob.

"I know, sweetheart," Rhea murmured as she stroked Lissa's head. "I know."

Rhea motioned for Christian and Eddie to come inside while she comforted Lissa. The guys walked to the living room where Eric was pacing. Lissa and Rhea joined them a minute later.

Lissa collapsed onto the couch beside Christian. He held her close as they waited.

Hours passed. The servants brought food and drinks, which mostly went untouched. Lissa and Christian both fell asleep on the sofa. Guardians came and went without any updates.

It was late afternoon when Lissa knew something changed. She had only been awake for an hour. The television was on, but she didn't hear it. She barely felt Christian's hand in hers. The sundering was a strange sensation, soft as a whisper. She felt as if part of herself was suddenly gone. She knew instinctively that Rose was dead.

Tears slipped silently down Lissa's cheeks. She wasn't ready to tell anyone. She wasn't ready to admit the truth, but she already knew that Rose was never coming back.

Rose's eyes opened blearily. She blinked slowly as she took in her surroundings. The room was very dimly lit by candles. "Candles?" she muttered, confused. Whatever she had been injected with was still clouding her mind. She felt nauseous, though if that was from the drugs or something else, she didn't know.

"I like the low light," a voice answered. A voice she recognized.

Rose's heart lurched in terror. No, no, this can't be happening.

When he stepped into her line of sight, she drew in a sharp breath. Ivan's face was death white. His expression was cold, and his eyes – red ringed eyes which should have been hazel. "I'm so glad to see you awake."

"Why am I here?" It felt stupid to ask, but it was the only thing Rose could think of saying.

He shrugged. "I was bored. I wanted to find someone to awaken — someone who will be an asset."

"I… what? No, you can't! I'd rather die than become a Strigoi!" She tried to quell her rising terror, but it was ratcheting up too quickly for her to remain calm. Ivan was in front of her. Ivan was talking about turning her.

He laughed. The sound was harsh and chilling. The nausea of being near a Strigoi increased.

"I had no choice, but now I know that this was my destiny. You'll come to see that I'm right. Afterward, we will awaken Dimitri. He will be useful."

"No, no, please Ivan…"

He walked to her. Grabbing her by the back of her hair, he forced her to look at him. "Stop begging. You look pathetic."

She glared. For a brief moment, anger overrode her terror.

"Better."

He moved quickly. His mouth went to her neck, fangs sinking into her. She cried out, but the pain was drowned in bliss, then nothingness.

Ivan licked the last drops of Rose's blood from her neck and his lips. He drew a knife from his pocket, cut the ropes binding her to the chair, and slashed his wrist. He put the injured hand to her lips and forced the fluid into her throat.

Her lips moved first, sucking greedily at his wrist. Her hands moved next, holding his hand in place as she drank. He felt her strength increase as she drew her life from him. Her eyes opened. Now ringed in red, they studied him as she pulled away.

"You bastard," she growled. She sprang onto him, clawing at him.

She was stronger and faster than him. He may have been a Strigoi longer, but she had been a guardian. She had him pinned in moments. Her hand reached for her stake.

She shrieked in pain as her hand touched the silver.

"You will find that gloves help." His voice was dry and mocking. He shifted out from under her. "You may be angry with me for awakening you, but you do need me to show you the ropes."

She glared at him, murder in her eyes. "Fine."

He stood, backing away. She removed her stake by covering her hand with her the hem of her shirt. She dropped it as soon as she could.

Crouching low, she surveyed the room. Details which had been hidden in the dim candle light were now crisp and clear. Her eyes traced the pattern of the wallpaper. Her fingers dug into the plush carpet beneath her. She breathed deep. The smoke of the candles and melted wax was heavy in the room. She could also smell her blood. Her mouth watered.

"I want to hunt."

His lips parted in a smile. "Later, the sun is still out."

"What do you do during daylight hours?"

"Come with me."

She stood, following him from the room. He led her down long, heavily curtained corridors. They eventually entered a spacious office. The furnishings and artwork were rich. He took a seat behind the large oak desk. She seated herself across from him in a plush leather chair.

"Where'd you get the house?"

"A human," he replied vaguely. "Power is strategic. We kill for food, of course, and for power. During the day we plan, and at night we hunt."

She nodded. "So, what do you plan?"

He told her the details of his sources of power, money, and influence. She listened attentively, though her heightened senses distracted her. She could hear water and electricity running through the walls of the house. She could hear a dog barking somewhere outside. She could hear birds singing as well.

"What happened to the one who awakened you?" she asked.

"He was killed in the caves outside of St. Vladimir's. That attack was a rare feat of cooperation. Sofia arranged it. There are some who hope to perform a similar feat later."

"Sofia?" Rose knew that name seemed familiar, but she couldn't place it.

"Sofia trained me. You'll meet her one day. She is the eldest Strigoi in North America, and I owe her my allegiance."

Rose stood, stretching. "Why do you owe her anything?"

Ivan also stood, not wanting Rose to have an advantage. "Because she is strong and wise and ruthless. She is also far more powerful than any other Strigoi you're likely to meet."

Rose considered that for a moment, sighing with resignation. "Then I suppose we won't attempt to overthrow her."

Ivan laughed harshly. "We would die very quickly if we tried. No, we work with her."

Rose walked around the room, studying it. "Why did she attack the school?"

"For prestige and to cull Strigoi. She was also in charge of the Strigoi you and your friends killed in Spokane. How are things in the Moroi world?"

"The attacks left the Moroi scared. They're trying to pass laws against the dhampirs. The idiots fail to realize that the dhampirs will just abandon them like they've been doing for years."

"You served them," he scoffed.

Her eyes narrowed as she looked at him. "I served no one. I defended Lissa."

Ivan considered her carefully before bringing up an idea. "Some of the awakened wish to eliminate the royal lines. The Dragomir line would be the easiest to —"

"No! They are mine."

He was almost amused by her vehemence. "And what will you do with them?"

She softened, giving him her best smile. "Awaken them."

"Ambitious. How will you do that?"

"How did you find me?" she asked testily.

Ivan smirked. "I believe you met Thomas? He's the human with a mohawk."

Rose glared but nodded.

"He has a sister who is a feeder at Court. Did you know that they can have visitors?"

"No, I didn't."

"I didn't either, and I lived at Court for years. Anyway, I had them find out what various people were doing. They came across Lissa's itinerary, and my humans proceeded to stalk you. Their goal was to get any of you. I had no preference, though your partner would have been boring since I don't know her."

Ivan rested his hands on the desk, looking at Rose with a wide smile. "And they brought me you. You're quite a prize."

Rose considered punching Ivan but refrained. She was still too new to kill him. The humans though... "Can I eat them?"

"No," he laughed. "They're both too useful."

"Useful?" Rose was skeptical. How useful could a human be?

"They brought me you; didn't they?"

Rose let out a disgusted huff.

"Think about it Rose," Ivan chuckled. "Humans can work for us during the day. Thomas can get us information straight from Court. And Kendra can get us more tranquilizers to take down people we want to awaken."

Rose looked away, angry. She hated that humans had taken her. She wanted to kill them. She wanted to hunt.

"Besides which," Ivan continued. "It seems rather tedious to train new humans to perform necessary tasks. It's easier to keep a few trained and kill someone else."

Rose sighed and turned back. She couldn't disagree with that. "Fine. When can we hunt?"

"In a few hours." Ivan looked her up and down. "I'll call Kendra to drop off clothes for you. Those are rather disgusting."

Rose looked down at her clothes for the first time. Her jeans were dusty and torn. Her shirt was also covered in dirt and a few bloodstains. It was her own blood, she knew. She wrinkled her nose. "Agreed. Do I have a room?"

Ivan waved absently to the left. "Pick one. Most of the bedrooms have bathrooms. Not that you need sleep, but it can still be your own private space. I already installed light blocking curtains on the walls in every room."

"On the walls?"

"You'll see." With a wave of his hand, Ivan dismissed Rose.

She turned on her heel and walked out of the study. She walked down the hall, trying her best to stop her temper. Killing Ivan would not help her. She needed to know more. She needed a plan. Ivan was too useful to kill right now.

Rose opened the doors along the hallway as she walked. Most of the rooms were sparsely furnished bedrooms coated in dust. She flipped on lights occasionally and saw what Ivan meant. Dark curtains were stapled to the walls, blotting out the windows entirely. It was efficient, she thought.

Rose chose a room near the end of the hall, close to a staircase. It was a large room with dark wood paneling on the walls and a large bed with a red bedspread on it. The floor was the same dark wood as the walls. Off to one side was a bathroom. The bathroom black and white tile with silver fixtures.

Rose saw herself in the mirror and gasped. She hadn't expected a reflection. She had been told that Strigoi lacked reflections. Rose touched the mirror and her face, examining what she saw. The face was familiar and yet it was alien. Her skin was white, a few shades darker than Ivan's chalk complexion. Her eyes were still very dark, which almost hid the red ring around her irises. She opened her mouth, noticing her fangs.

She was also filthy. Rose found soap and a towel, then proceeded to clean herself. She cleaned blood and dirt from her face, neck, hands, and arms. Looking down at her dirt and blood stained clothes, she wrinkled her nose. She would have to wait for the new clothes to be totally clean.

Rose left the bathroom and saw Ivan standing at the door to her bedroom. She was about to snap at him when she saw that he was on the phone.

"I need your size," he said.

Rose told him her sizes, including the need for more shoes. She also told him that she needed a phone and laptop. Ivan relayed it all to Kendra.

When he got off the phone, he put it into a pocket. "Let me show you around. Shopping will take a while. Other than business matters, we have a lot of free time."

"You told me about the business. Do I get a job?"

Ivan shrugged. "Eventually."

They walked from the room. Ivan showed her a library, a living room with a gigantic television, and a gym. Rose knew that she would use all of them. Then they went back upstairs to a room beside the office. Ivan took out a key and unlocked the door.

"This is my own project," he said before opening the door. "Don't breathe a word about it to anyone."

Rose looked at him questioningly before following him inside. Rose took in the room. She saw all the maps, pictures, and notes tacked to the walls. She took it in, eyes scanning the words.

"What is this?" she asked.

"Knowledge. These are all the locations of Strigoi, Moroi, dhampirs, and alchemists that I know."

"And notes on all of them," she murmured. She lost herself in all the notes and maps. Memories of the past month flickered in her mind. She had visited multiple Moroi homes and dhampir communities. "I can add to it."

While waiting for her clothes to arrive, Rose tested her reflexes, speed, and strength. She was stronger and faster than she had ever been before. All her senses were enhanced as well. As she worked with weights and the treadmill in the gym, Rose began creating a list of things she wanted in her head. Among the things she wanted were throwing knives and gloves. Not that she had ever trained with throwing knives, but she could learn. She had all the time in the world now.

Rose also gave a lot of thought to the problem of Ivan. For now, their goals were aligned. However, she didn't trust him. She also knew that he didn't trust her. She was physically more powerful. He had more knowledge about the world of the Strigoi. She needed to keep him loyal to her. She had to keep his trust.

Later, she sifted through the clothes which had been left for her. Kendra hadn't entered the mansion, which was for the human's safety. The human had brought Rose an assortment of clothes. Most of the clothing was red or black, along with blue jeans.

Rose tried on everything before settling on a plain black tee shirt and black jeans. She even had new black sneakers to wear with it. Rose let her hair down, letting it fall in a thick curtain around her shoulders and upper back.

Rose and Ivan left the house at nightfall in a black Corvette. He drove recklessly fast down the highway. The top of the car was down. Rose delighted in the feeling of air whipping against her skin.

They stopped at a park. It was night, so few people were around. This would make killing easier to hide.

Ivan looked at her, a smile spreading across his face. "Now, we hunt."

They jumped out of the car and breathed deep. Humans were nearby, though not many. Rose could smell them in the air. She followed Ivan, moving as swift and silent as a breeze.

They found a pair of humans kissing on a bench. They moved quickly and silently toward the pair. Rose grabbed one, snapping the human's neck as it started to scream. Rose sank her fangs into hers while Ivan bit into the other. She was ravenous, scarcely tasting the blood at first. Eventually, she savored the flavor. The human tasted salty and sweet. It was exquisite, like a fine wine.

"Do they all taste the same?"

"No, they all taste a bit different. Try this one."

She bit into the other one and could taste subtle differences. "It's like wine."

He laughed. "I suppose so."

"And Moroi and dhampirs taste different from humans?"

"Yes. They taste better."

She grinned.

"Come on," he said. "We need to dispose of them."

"Do we?"

"If we dispose of the bodies, then it will take longer for anyone to know we are in the area. We are a bit over an hour from Court, which is too close to be careless. We also don't need to kill all of our food."

Rose snorted. "Where's the fun in that?"

Ivan sighed. Standing, he picked up one body by the arms and began dragging it toward a thicket of bushes. "Recklessness gets you killed."

"I'm not reckless," she protested. She followed him with the other body.

He laughed. "If you say so."

Rose glared at Ivan. "And you're so restrained?"

"I am. I learned restraint. Restraint keeps us alive. Use your mind. Think through the possibilities. Plan ahead."

"You are so full of yourself."

"I've kept myself alive for five months by being smart and by choosing the correct allies."

"Fine," Rose spat. "How do you choose the correct allies? You chose the humans. You chose me."

"I also chose Sofia." Ivan finished pushing the bodies into the thicket, hiding them out of sight. "She taught me everything I know. I'm using that now to build my own power. I want you to work with me on that. You saw the maps. You helped me with them."

"Yes, I saw and helped. What are you working toward?"

Ivan grinned. His lips were red with blood. "I want to attack Court."

"Seriously?" she laughed. "Is that even possible?"

He shrugged. "Sofia got through the wards of St. Vladimir's. With enough preparation, we can get through to Court. I want to awaken more of the people we know. I want us to be stronger."

She considered him thoughtfully. "How do you get the humans to work for you?"

"Humans? Easy, promise them eternal life. Or, in the case of Kendra, threaten her life. I also feed from her. She comes back for the bites."

An already half-forgotten memory of Ivan biting her flickered through Rose's mind. She knew that the endorphins had been bliss, but the memory was blurry. She supposed that was normal for a memory of dying. She had no memories of her first death either. A dark laugh escaped her lips.

Ivan looked at her, wary and curious. "What's so funny?"

"I've died twice. Once raised to mortality and now to immortality." She laughed again.

Ivan laughed with her, though it was a cold thing.

When the moment passed, Rose asked another question. "How do you choose Strigoi to be associates?"

"With caution. We are a rather treacherous race."

"But we need one another to accomplish greatness. Do we not?"

"We do, but allies must be chosen with care."

"And we kill them when they cause us trouble?"

"Of course."

They eyed one another. They would turn against one another one day, they could see it in each other's eyes. He was too wary of her. She was too reckless and independent.

Rose took a step closer to him. She gave him a smile when she saw his defenses rise. "We're allies," she purred. "No need to doubt me."

She had reached a conclusion about how to keep his trust. It was a tactical maneuver. She saw no other solution which would ensure his trust. She stepped nearer. He didn't move, though his eyes studied her. Slowly, she reached for him, one hand touching his arm.

"What are you trying to do?" His tone was more curious than worried.

"I wanted to show you how much I enjoy being awakened."

He allowed her to move closer. She ran one hand up his chest while the other continued up his arm. He bent to her, bringing his lips to hers. Their kissing quickly grew fierce. It was a battle of wills. He ran his hands through her hair. She dug her nails into his shoulders.

She pulled away when one of his hands went up her shirt. He tried to hold onto her again, but she evaded him. Anger flashed across his face.

"Later," she purred.

She hadn't known that such intimate relationships between Strigoi were possible until that moment. She needed him to believe in her loyalty, at least until they awakened Dimitri. Dimitri would then be her ally. He would be stronger than Ivan. Ivan had been a weak Moroi. Dimitri was a strong dhampir. His value was greater. For now, she would entertain herself and Ivan, assuring him of her loyalty in the way she thought best.

"I want to run now."

She took off, running faster than she ever had in life. She ran for miles, stopping atop the crest of a hill. She looked out at the lights of a town. Her eyes could see countless stars which she had never seen in life. It was all irrelevant to her now. She wanted to rule them all.

Ivan reached her a moment later. He placed his hands on her hips, drawing her against him. She allowed him to run one hand upward while the other travelled lower. She let him touch her. Though she was stronger, she allowed him a small amount of power over her. She relaxed into his touch, reveling in sensations which were more than she had ever known in life.

She shifted to face him. His hands moved so that she could turn. They kissed again.

There was no sweetness between them. There was fascination and desire. Above all was the desire to dominate. They were harsh with one another, each vying for control. Neither wanted the other to win. Eventually, she allowed him dominance. She lay on the ground and allowed him to think he had power. They kissed as he moved. Pleasure without passion, without love.

Satisfied with themselves, they pulled apart. They dressed and returned to the car.

On the drive back to the mansion, Rose began thinking. Her fingers touched the pendants she still wore around her neck. The silver heart didn't burn, since it wasn't enchanted, but it still felt wrong. It was part of another life. That Rose was dead. This Rose, however, devised a use for it.

Rose looked over at Ivan, a wicked smile on her lips as she told him her plan.

Notes:

I've never been so anxious about posting a chapter. Please believe me that there is a light at the end of this dark tunnel. I'm just going to put the characters through the wringer first.

Regarding Ivan and Rose... it's not something either of them would have done as mortals. It's supposed to be uncomfortable and creepy.

Ages ago I mentioned that I had a few ideas that I wanted to incorporate into fanfics for this fandom. Rose being turned was one of those ideas. Back in the fall of 2017 I was chatting with another person in the fandom and we both wanted to write stories where Rose turns Strigoi, this was my result. I had a few other ideas for stories as well, which were incorporated into this story. The scenes between Rose and Ivan were written (though edited/revised by now) directly after I wrote chapter one.

The most interesting thing is that one dear commenter, debpreato, has made numerous comments throughout this story which pick up on the foreshadowing for almost everything. (which makes non-spoliery replies super difficult!)

I hope you stick with me and don't hate me for turning Rose... and making her do a lot of things. Like I said, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. (And only around 17 chapters left!)

Thank you for reading, following, and commenting! I'll see you again soon!