#vasource

It was something of a mystery how a couple of teenage girls had managed to escape detection for two years, especially when one of them was a privileged Moroi princess and the other a delinquent dhampir with a disciplinary file so long that it broke school records.

I've trained to be your shadow, but you know what? I want to come first.

I want you, Rose. I've always wanted you.

Lissa and I had been best friends ever since kindergarden, when our teacher had paired us together for writing lessons. Forcing five-year-olds to spell “Vasilisa Dragomir” and “Rosemarie Hathaway” was beyond cruel.

Vasilisa brushed Death to bring you back and bound you to her forever. You were actually in its embrace, and some part of you will always remember that, always fighting to cling to life and experience all it has. That's why you're so r e c k l e s s in the things you do. You don't hold back your feelings, your passion, your anger. It makes you remarkable. It makes you dangerous.

Don’t worry, little dhampir.

“Goodbye,” I told him. “Thanks for your help... I... I’ll miss you.” His form grew fainter and fainter, and just before it went altogether, I saw the hint of a smile, that laughing and mischievous smile I’d loved so much.