Rose

"You're mistaken," I said firmly, "that'll never happen. I'd never betray the Moroi."

Robert laughed. "What amuses me," he said as he moved away, "is that I actually believe you. You'd never willingly betray the Moroi – you'd never betray Vasilisa. But, you see, you already have. Just by leading me to turn, you've signed all their death warrants."

"You're not making any sense, old man," I retorted. "Maybe spirit's still having more of an effect on your brain than you thought."

Robert sneered. "You wouldn't know, now that your bond's gone."

I tried to hide my shock. Without his spirit powers, Robert shouldn't have been able to see that Lissa and I weren't bonded anymore.

"The whole reason I turned was because I felt weak," Robert continued. "And because I wanted revenge for Victor. But now, I can appreciate just how small Victor is, in the scheme of things. Insignificant." He smiled coldly. "Again, it's amazing how much my mind cleared after I turned."

I knew what had happened. As a Moroi, Robert had loved Victor deeply, and Victor had loved him back. They'd been brothers, after all. With his turning, Robert had lost his ability to love, and regarded the memory of Victor with coldness the way he'd see everything else.

"But I still want you to hurt," Robert was saying. "I still want you and Belikov and Vasilisa and the entire Moroi world to hurt. And that's the beauty of it. With my mind clear, without spirit poisoning it and driving me insane, I'm free to take my role in the world, as I always should have been: a leader."

The Grand Master. My mind scrambled to keep up.

"You can probably see that I've risen quite quickly through the ranks of Strigoi," Robert continued. "It's only been a few months, after all, and yet I've assumed this position of power, become a Grand Master among them. They owe their loyalty to me."

I glanced quickly at the Strigoi dotted through the room. In their eyes, I saw respect – a twisted, evil respect, but respect all the same. I didn't see loyalty. Strigoi had no loyalty to anyone but themselves. These Strigoi respected Robert for what he could do for them, but I suspected the moment he outlived his usefulness they would tear him to pieces the way they would each other.

"I started gathering more followers." Robert was pacing in front of his desk now. "I found the most powerful Strigoi in the region and allied myself to them – and those who crossed me, I killed." He smiled, and I shivered. This bloodthirstiness wasn't what I was used to from what had once been a docile (yet emotionally unstable) man. "I won their respect, I won their servitude through my ability to kill. Did you really not notice the attacks on Moroi and dhampirs over the East Coast? Who do you think orchestrated them?"

My blood ran cold. There had indeed been Strigoi attacks up and down the East Coast, but we'd dismissed it as coincidence. What else could it be? The Strigoi were disorganized, and had no unity – at least, they hadn't until now. If Robert had assumed command of them and was sending them into attacks like a general, this boded very badly for the future of the Moroi.

"And the whole time, I was drawing up plans," Robert said. He was gloating now, revelling in his own brilliance. "Plans to strike back at the Moroi. They've grown fat, lazy and stupid, even as their numbers drop. It's time we sent a message to them once and for all."

My heart began to race. "You're going to launch an attack on Court."

Robert glanced over at me, and nodded. "Maybe you're not as stupid as you look, Rose."

"You can't do that!" I blurted out. "There're wards. And the guardians will stop you! You have no idea what you're going up against."

"Actually, Rose," Robert said, "I do. You forget, I was Moroi myself not too long ago. And not just any Moroi, a royal. I know their schemes, and I know their machinations, all too well. They're too busy backstabbing, manipulating and scheming at Court to notice the threat that's right under their noses. By the time they notice, it'll be far too late for them. And once Court has fallen, the Moroi world will crumble. Moroi everywhere will panic, and flee, and expose themselves – and it'll be good eating for the Strigoi." He bared his fangs, and laughed.

I was sweating. "And what're you going to do with me?"

"You?" Robert's eyes narrowed.

"If you think I'm going to help you invade Court, you're crazy!"

"Oh, Rose. So self-centred." Robert's gaze was mocking. "You're even stupider than I thought if you think I need your help. No, we're going to keep you until the day we strike at Court – and I promise you, it will be soon. We're almost ready. Strigoi are gathering from all over the country and the world, and we'll soon have the numbers to attack. And you're going to sit by my side and watch as first the guardians, then the royals, fall one by one." He was pacing forward now, speaking faster and faster. "You're going to watch Vasilisa and Belikov die, and you're going to know it's your fault. And then, I'm going to kill you, and you will die knowing that you brought everything you love to destruction."

He stopped right in front of me. His red eyes were burning with intensity and hatred. Then, he stepped back, and chuckled.

"It's not like I have anything to fear from you anyway, Rose. Now, take her back to her cell," he ordered the Strigoi guards. They moved forward, and I tried to resist, but as before, they restrained me all too easily with their numbers and their Strigoi strength.

I tried to spit at him, but suddenly, his eyes widened. "Oh, and by the way," he told the guards, "don't let her sleep naturally. Drug her. Give her some form of chloroform. That'll stop any spirit users who may want to contact her – through the drug-induced haze, spirit dreams won't be able to make the connection."

"You won't get away with this!" I called as I was led out.

"Oh, Rose," came Robert's mocking reply. "I already have."