A minute or two later, I was standing against the door, hearing the wood creaking as it threatened to splinter, and fall from its frame, thus allowing Dimitri into the room. The last minute before it did so, I looked at Eddie and whispered, "Do what you have to."

He stared at me, wideyed and then nodded quickly. "Rose, there is some part of you... left, isn't there?" He seemed confused,
I smiled wryly. "Yes. And I hope it stays that way." He stares off into space for a second and I had to lean against the door even more, now that it was about to collapse. "How many survivors?" I heard myself hear, and for a second there was utter silence.
"About half," Eddie said tensly and one of the other novices interrupted.
"And how many were yours?" She said it snidely, a look of pure venom in her eyes. "None. I swear. Nobody. I... I... broke Adrian's leg but that's all, I promise." I hoped that Eddie could see how ashamed I was deep down, beneath all the Strigoiness.

"None." Eddie looked at me raising an eyebrow.
"I told you, I broke Adrian's arm and that's everything. I could never..." I didn't mention that I had already lost control once. Lucky I hadn't hurt anyone yet. That I wasn't a murdurer. But I knew that vampire nature could only be held off for so long and then...

A second later, the door crashed down, and a splinter pushed through my back, and I swore, stepping back in pain. I managed to get the splinter out, and it hadn't reached anywhere near my heart, but I was still in agony, as Dimitri stepped into the room, a smug smile on his face.
"I told you that I would awaken you Roza,"

Shivering, even though it was impossible that I was cold anymore, I stepped backwards, so that I was standing just in front of the novices.
"You should never have done that," I spat.
He laughed. "Yes, but you know it was the right thing now - you can't hate what you are now?"
"But I do." And I glanced at the window behind me, a plan forming in my mind.
Slowly, I spun around, pulling the curtain open, exposing both of us to the light. I managed to roll onto the floor to the left, avoiding all but the tiniest amount of light.

But still I was in agony, and when I heard a scream from above me; and managed to pull myself to my feet, avoiding the light. My vision hazy, I staggered against the wall, to see Dimitri lying on the floor with Eddie holding him down. Eddie turned to me. "What do I do?"
"Let him live," I managed to stammer. Live - what did that mean to a Strigoi - our hearts no longer beating...

Then I slid to the floor, pain encasing me. I heard footsteps,but couldn't see anymore, barely concious. Remembering what had happened last time this had happened, I managed to open my eyes for just a second.
"Help me," I stammered to Eddie, who looked scared, more scared than he should have been, now that I was less of a threat.
"Whaa-" I croaked.
"Your eyes, for a second - they were brown. Not looked less Strigoi..."

Fuzzily, my brain tried to figure out what he meant; was I slowly becoming more Dhampir again or was I just taking longer than normal to be a full Strigoi? Soon, I sank into darkness...