1
Oh, Father, turn it up.
Please, Mr. Dragomir,
I love this song.
This song is sick... the traditional
"vomit" definition of the word.
Shut up, Andre.
Me and Rose want to hear it.
"Rose and I," Lissa,
"Rose and I."
I think the tune is rather catchy.
Lissa?
Lissa. Hey, Lissa, wake up.
- You're having a bad dream.
- It wasn't a dream.
I know. The accident.
Sorry. Not again.
You know, ever since that night,
I still can't get used to it.
You being in my head,
it's so weird.
You should know by now,
with us,
"weird" doesn't begin to cover it.
Why can't you be like
a normal teenage girl
and dream about hot,
naked guys on unicorns?
Does it have to be unicorns?
Of course not. It could be Jet Skis,
mechanical bulls or...
Why do you have a scary poster
of an American ex-president?
Well, you told me I needed to blend
more into Oregano society.
We're in Oregon.
You know you're completely hopeless
as a human being, right?
I'm still adjusting, Rose.
It's been less than a year
since we ran away from the academy,
two years since the crash.
Don't you ever stop to think about
everything that we've gone through?
Stopping is for losers.
I only think about keeping us moving
and keeping you safe.
Does anyone even remember us?
You really think the academy's
still trying to hunt us down?
Absolutely. I think we may
have to get plastic surgery.
No, don't, please.
- Yes? No?
- No.
- Just like this? You like it?
- Rose, no.
- Whoa. When was the last time you...?
- I'm not hungry.
Is exactly what you say
every time you're hungry.
Come to the kitchen.
I'll make your favorite.
Are you...
are you sure about this?
Bon apptit.
- Thanks.
- What are friends for?
You jealous, Oscar?
What are you looking at?
Do I still have anything
on my...?
Lissa, smile. They're watching.
Not a drill.
- What's out there? Not Strigoi?
- No, not Strigoi, thank God. Guardians.
Keep close,
just like we practiced.
Lissa, go.
- Did you have to hurt them?
- Did I have to hurt them?
You're welcome.
Get out the map, Gandhi.
We'll head north into Canada.
Did you really bring that fur ball?
I couldn't just abandon him.
Hells, yes.
Rose.
Princess Vasilisa Dragomir.
My name is Dimitri Belikov.
I've come to take you back
to St. Vladimir's Academy.
Listen, comrade, to get to her,
you're gonna have to go through me.
Like I said, "weird"
doesn't begin to cover it.
My best friend Lissa Dragomir
is a royal member
the Moroi.
The Moroi don't wear black capes,
turn into bats or sleep in coffins.
Daylight annoys yet doesn't kill them,
and they don't sparkle, either.
But, yes, like most creatures
with fangs, the Moroi live off blood.
But they don't live forever,
that's why they need us.
My name is Rose Hathaway and like
these other guys, I'm a Dhampir.
We're the protectors, the guardians.
Only half Moroi, I can eat a bacon
cheeseburger or whatever else I want.
Dhampir lives are dedicated
to protecting the Moroi.
They come first.
Only nothings ever simple.
Handcuffs? There's got to be
a compliment in there somewhere.
So you're taking us back to the academy.
Tell me, how bad is it gonna be?
Nothing?
You know, I kept the princess
safe and hidden
for an entire year
before you got lucky.
- Congratulations.
- It speaks.
Wow, that's a lot of molnija marks
you got there.
You've killed six Strigoi?
We were afraid that we'd run
into one of them back there.
If you had run into a Strigoi,
we wouldn't be having this conversation.
This is your idea of a conversation?
Exactly.
We are here. Open the gate.
Anyone there?
Where is everyone?
- Let's go!
- Lissa!
Move, move!
Stay in the car.
No!
I've got this one. Stay here.
What's going on out there?
Stay here.
Spiridon.
Welcome back, Dimitri.
And then there's group number
the bad vampires, the Strigoi.
Evil bloodsuckers
that only come out at night
and can only be killed
by a silver stake.
It takes five of our best
to kill one of their worst.
If you're lucky,
they'll just rip you apart,
but they can also turn you
into one of them.
Strigoi were the true monsters
of our nightmares.
For all the stories, the warnings,
and the training films,
I had never seen one up close.
I told you to stay in the car.
We're clear.
And there it was.
Goodbye, Facebook.
Goodbye, iPhone 5.
Hello, St. Vladimir's.
It is not just another school.
It's another universe.
Moroi and Dhampir students
come from all over the world
to study history, science, math,
and all the other boring stuff,
but around fourth period,
we Dhampir go off and learn fun new ways
to maim and kill,
while, for the Moroi, it's magic time.
Water, earth, fire, air.
You see, it's not just their diet
that makes the Moroi special,
and some are more special than others.
Our secret society
has its own government
that alternates leaders
from 12 royal families.
That's Queen Tatiana up top,
but my girl Lissa is in the mix.
You can see why the princess leaving
the academy was such a scandal,
and me helping her was worse.
Damn, back to Vampire Academy.
Please don't say Vampire Academy.
You know how I feel about the "V" word.
Sorry.
It's not like the drinking of
blood is your main source of sustenance.
No, wait, that's exactly what it is.
They just had to bring us back
in the middle of the night.
So not cool... 1:00 a.m.,
end of fifth period.
Ew, it looks like
Aaron's tried to replace you
with a little keychain version.
God, I hate high school.
Princess.
Headmistress Kirova is ready for you.
Come on.
It's all so unprecedented. I'm at a loss
coming up with proper punishment.
As Lissa's guardian...
You're not an official guardian,
Hathaway.
You are a novice.
You put Vasilisa
at the mercy of the Strigoi,
who would love to destroy,
or even worse, transform...
It was my idea to leave.
Rose only did what...
A trained guardian knows...
Ellen, please.
- Victor.
- Lissa.
Ah.
Prince Dashkov, you look so...
Yes. My Sandovsky's syndrome
has gotten worse.
Oh, Victor,
we never meant to worry you.
Headmistress,
these girls have been
through so much.
As provost of this school
and Lissa's father's
oldest friend,
I beg you,
look into your heart.
Vasilisa,
I have the utmost sympathy
for the loss of your parents
and your brother, Andre.
But why did you flee
a heavily guarded compound
of Moroi students
from all over the world?
It's not easy to explain.
Lissa felt more in danger here
in your secure environment
than on the outside
as an anonymous teenager.
Fascinating.
This is where you give me specifics.
Where's Ms. Karp?
She should be here.
She can maybe shed some light
onto the situation.
Ms. Karp is no longer
part of this institution.
I...
This is where you give me specifics.
What do you mean?
It's not important!
Vasilisa Dragomir is
from one of the 12 royal families.
She's the last of the Dragomir line.
With my condition taking
the Dashkov family out of contention,
Lissa is a possible
successor to the throne.
But you, Hathaway, a Dhampir girl
cut off from the community,
out on civilian streets without a dime
or a Social Security number?
"Blood whore" is such an ugly term,
but I'm sure Moroi men
on business trips would pay a lot
for the especially sweet taste.
Headmistress Kirova.
- They have the bond.
- That's... that's impossible.
In my brief observation period,
Rose could tell what Lissa
was thinking or feeling,
sometimes without being
in the same place.
What a rare and wonderful gift.
This doesn't take away from the fact
that Rose Hathaway is wild, dangerous...
- insubordinate, vulgar.
- Right here, folks. Right here.
But the number of female Dhampir
guardians has gone down
way too much to risk losing one
with such potential.
Ellen, what this impressive new
guardian says seems reasonable.
We're so sorry, Headmistress.
After the crash, I lacked
a strong parental figure to confide in.
I'm afraid Rose and I
got in way over our heads.
Two crazy kids.
Hathaway can stay,
but no extracurricular activities,
no parties, no socializing,
nothing resembling fun.
Take the princess to her royal quarters
and find a broom closet for...
Oh, Rose, I almost forgot.
A telegram.
From Mom.
Kirova flipping out and Lissa
using compulsion to save my ass,
just another night at St. Vladimir's.
Wow. This place definitely
brought back memories.
Come on, over here.
Before the accident,
my father used to say
that for a Moroi not declaring a magic
is like not going through puberty.
Yeah, and he also used
to say practice during the day
while the world,
your world, is sleeping.
Let's make some magic.
Perfect.
Fire and water.
That's my Moroi.
- Rose...
- Don't leave me hanging.
Rose, you know
how I feel about high-fives.
Ladies. It's after 11:00 a.m., girls.
You should be in bed.
The sun has cleared the trees,
and it won't be kind, Your Highness.
I never got a chance to express
my condolences at the funeral.
But I am so heartened
by the extraordinary recovery
you've both made.
And don't worry, Princess.
I never officially
declared a magic, either.
And look how I turned out.
Ms. Karp's so different
from the other instructors.
It's really refreshing.
The thing that I like the most about her
is she's not strange or creepy at all.
- It's hurt.
- It's more than hurt. It's done.
Leave it. Come on, let...
That was unique.
Lissa.
Lissa?
Hey, Liss.
- It's good to see you.
- Aaron.
Guessing your new girlfriend
practices water magic. Classy.
Yeah. Hey, I'm sorry.
Mia gets jealous,
but deep down, she's sweet.
Back off, bitch. He's mine now.
Very deep down, apparently.
How does it feel to leave at the
top and come back at the bottom?
Don't like what I'm saying?
What are you gonna do about it?
Thanks for asking.
I'm gonna go to a quiet place
and be very depressed
that this is my new life.
All Dhampir novices
transfer to the next training station.
Everyone transfer
to their next training station.
Dimitri is a God.
I hear he tracked them down to Oregon,
and when Rose tried to put up
a fight, he handed her her ass.
And what was left of that ass
got chewed up by Headmistress Kirova.
Surely, you have something more
interesting to discuss than my ass.
- Your boobies?
- Quit while you're alive, Mason.
What up, baby?
Ooh.
Forgot the secret handshake.
That hurts.
You know, I'm gonna make you pay
for your booby comment.
Old Rose maybe,
but you've missed a year of training.
Yeah, you needed that year to catch up
with what I was born with.
Prepare to...
Ow!
Sorry, Rose. Don't hate me.
I'd hate you more if you held back.
They have these things
in the outside world...
Pinkberry and mini taquitos,
Toaster Strudel...
Oh, no. Not this again.
Don't worry. I don't bite.
Well... only literally.
What are you doing here?
This is where I come to get away.
Hey, this was my...
special place
before it was
your special place.
What do you have
to get away from, Princess?
What do you know about pain?
Break a nail off in your tiara?
- Excuse me, after a car crash...
- You got off easy.
How dare you! Do you have any idea
what it's like to lose your family?
Oh. Sorry.
You know you're talking
to Christian Ozera, right?
Parents transformed themselves
into Strigoi...
When your folks died,
there was a pretty funeral,
and everybody cried.
When my mother and father
were hunted down, everybody cheered.
I hate what they chose to become...
but they were still my parents.
A Strigoi can't enter holy ground.
Is that why you come to the church?
To prove to everyone you haven't turned?
Get away from that freak.
Maybe I just like the way
the moonlight hits this spot.
It's as if you're on another planet.
What was it like...
outside the academy?
It was kind of scary,
just the two of us out there,
but... it was also kind of great.
No one knew who I was.
It does sound kind of great.
But what did you do for blood?
I mean, it's not like
you can pick it up at 7-Eleven.
Or so I've read.
Don't you say anything, girl.
People will get the wrong idea.
You and Rose, all alone on the road.
I have my theories.
Promise me you won't tell
your friends these theories.
I promise you
I have no friends to tell.
Stop staring at each other all...
- ...gooey like.
- Hathaway!
Look alive!
Comrade Belikov.
They ran me ragged.
What do you say we go easy today?
- Perhaps discuss a bit of theory.
- Of course, Rose. I understand.
How do you say
"what a dick" in Russian?
Did you even go to a gym out there?
I took a couple of spinning classes.
Do you really think beating me up
is gonna help me face a live Strigoi?
After your performance last night,
if you see a Strigoi,
I recommend running.
Now, give me ten sets of lines.
You know, this country has a concept
called "positive reinforcement."
Rose, your bond is special.
You're an ideal choice to guard Vasilisa
when you both graduate.
But if you want to be with her,
you need to be ready for anything.
- Ow!
- Wow.
You look how I feel.
I look how I feel.
How's that "under the radar"
plan working out, Highness?
Not so much.
If you need
a shoulder to cry on,
use mine,
not Christian Ozera's.
- Who told you?
- I was sort of... you know, there.
Oh, not again. That's so gross.
I know, and it was, like,
the longest one yet.
- You seriously can't turn it off?
- I don't know.
Have you ever seen me go
to the bathroom?
No, but thank you for giving me
something to look forward to.
Oh, shut up. Oh!
No wonder I'm so cranky.
I'm starving.
And now, for the obligatory
cafeteria scene, sort of.
Ever wonder what happened
to that friend of yours,
obsessed with vampire books
and shows?
It's called
the human feeder program.
Human civilians systematically
giving their blood.
I forgot how much
I did not miss this.
Hey, no feeder is brought here
against their will.
They can leave any time
that they want to.
Yeah, it's just a one-year
service limit,
and their memories are
officially compulsed upon departure.
That's completely normal.
Don't feel
too sorry for the feeders.
If you recall, the bitee does
get something out of the process.
- Oh, there's Norrine. Here.
- Hey! Look at you!
- How are you?
- Yeah, good.
Here.
Okay.
Rose! Come and keep
a decrepit man company.
Decrepit? You're just saying that so
I won't kick your ass in five-card draw.
Tell me, my darling,
while you were gone,
did Lissa get any closer
to declaring?
There's not a lot of places
to practice magic in Portland.
Oh, true, true.
On the subject of non-declarers,
I want to know why, when I brought up
Ms. Karp's name yesterday,
you all acted like
I put a porcupine in a hot tub.
Karp has always been a few corpuscles
shy of a full artery.
She didn't have a Dhampir
to look after her.
I know you have your
special bond with Lissa,
but it makes your escape
that much more alarming.
I'm on your side, Rose,
but we live in a world
where the bogeymen are real.
I know.
I'm still a little freaked-out.
I was there last night
when that Strigoi attacked,
and I just... I totally choked.
Don't be so down on yourself, Rose.
Why are you...
I know you have your
life mission to protect Lissa,
but would you now and again
look out for my Natalie?
Mm...
She's a goofball,
but I do cherish her.
Yes.
Well, she worships her father.
She would do anything for you.
I must go to her.
Hey.
Hi.
Do I have anything...
Just fat-lady feeder breath.
Here.
So, do you even know your feeders?
Norrine's recently divorced,
and she's catching up on some me-time.
She writes Twilight fan-fiction.
- Have you read any of it?
- Oh, God, no.
Rose, Princess Vasilisa.
I mean, Lissa.
You said I could call you Lissa,
but if I can't anymore,
- that's totally fine.
- Hello, Natalie.
By the soul of St. Vlad's,
so much has happened.
Nothing bigger than your escape,
of course. Why did you escape?
Did you hear Sheila Flight
and Bruce Bugsburger broke up?
Apparently, Bruce still has his
baby fangs, and it freaks Sheila out.
And you know about Tess and Jackson?
Each was afraid that they're
gonna be the ones to get dumped,
so they started this really
weird rumor. I can't really remember...
Natalie?
Do you take gossip requests?
Mia Rinaldi over there, is she new?
Well, she's been around,
but new haircut, new fangs,
and now she's hanging out
with all the royals.
Rose Hathaway,
what are you doing here?
Surely you would not deprive
a girl of her religious needs?
Just get inside.
The debate team,
and I don't really know if I...
Speaking of extracurricular
activities that I miss, is that Jesse?
The hot get hotter.
Yeah, Jesse's still the academy's
number one wet dreamboat.
He has a terrible personality.
Jesse has a personality?
I didn't know.
Don't judge a book by its content.
You know this is a church, right?
Gosh, if only there was a way
that we could set up a double
date with Ray over there.
You can't tell me that there's
no inbreeding amongst you royals.
Exhibit Ray.
Ray just doesn't know
how to express his feelings.
You know, when a boy throws
sand in a girl's face,
it really means that...
Never mind.
Yeah.
- Your friend's a tool.
- Don't change the subject.
You, me... you and me.
Yeah, but don't you
have a girlfriend?
- Probably.
- Oh, you are bad.
What's so bad about bad?
You do understand, Rose,
that even the walls of a church
can't protect a true sinner
from a good lightning bolt?
Save a seat for me
in the Dhampir section, you dork.
Mason likes you so much.
Why can't you go outwith
a nice, funny guy like him?
I know. If only I could
put Mason into Jesse's body.
God can be cruel.
Yes. That's true.
Come on. Let's go.
Following God's path is never easy.
Even St. Vladimir
had difficulty controlling
and understanding his powers.
But he was bound
to a loving Dhampir guardian
who always knew
what was in his heart and mind.
Shadow-kissed Anna.
Shadow-kissed Rose,
you're bound to Lissa,
and it's up to you to help her.
What's so funny?
Did you write that?
Down, Dhampir, you saw me in church.
Listen, Gap Kids, if I find out
that you had anything to do with that,
I will rip your...
You'll what? You're on lockdown.
You breathe the wrong way
and you're out on the pavement
doing amateur blood whore porn.
Listen up, that's enough
excitement for a Sunday night.
Everyone back to your dorms
until further notice.
Royal rec room, high noon.
I've changed my mind.
I'm feeling bad.
Good.
We Moroi may not burst
into flames like Strigoi,
but daylight still stings.
Poor thing.
Did you have jobs out in the world?
What about an iPhone?
- What's a hashtag?
- Please, stop talking.
Whoa, horsey,
what do you think you're doing?
Come on, Rose. A bite while
you're going at it is the best.
Stop it!
Oh... I know that look.
You've done it before.
I would never let a guy
degrade me like that.
Not a guy, of course. Lissa.
We've all been wondering
how she fed.
Once you've had fang,
Rose, you never go...
Daytime fraternization.
Forbidden.
I get it. Chill, chill.
Again, Jesse?
Back to your room!
What?
Lissa, what are you doing?
- Rose?
- Lissa's in trouble.
I heard... I heard a noise.
Lissa...
There's so much blood.
It's starting again, isn't it?
I tried, Rose,
I tried to bring it back,
but... it was too late.
Get over here and comfort her, jerk.
It's gonna be OK.
- What the hell is Kirova doing?
- She's giving Vasilisa a sedative,
and we are increasing
her guardian detail.
Our security system is geared
to keeping Strigoi out,
not dealing
with teenage bullying within.
Bullying? You really think
that's all this is?
- Rose...
- Sorry.
Thank you for not saying
anything to Kirova about...
it was foolish of me to assume you'd be
above such 17-year-old silliness.
Hmm. Hmm...
The sunlight, it's nice.
I miss it.
Stupid vampire timetable.
The little sacrifices we make.
And the big ones.
My 17-year-old silliness,
that was the past.
That was an hour ago.
Are you trying to tell me
you're suddenly mature and responsible?
I'm trying to tell you
that I want to be, I have to be.
Teach me something more than doing laps.
I know enough about running away.
And next time we meet,
teach me how to fight.
Pipe down.
Let's pick up where we left off.
After the tribunals in Romania... Mia!
You're usually a lot better
at passing on notes.
- Having an off-day?
- Oh, no, Mr. Meisner,
please don't read this note
out loud, I beg of you.
"I'll bet that drama queen..."
I mean, drama princess,
killed that fox herself
"to distract the school
from her real secret."
Don't go on.
Mr. Meisner, you're being used as a tool
to broadcast Mia's vile propaganda.
Are you calling me a tool?
- If she's not, I will.
- What was that, Hathaway?
Now I'm curious.
"So, it turns out the reason"
that Lissa survived
so long on the outside
"is she used Rose
as a personal feed bag."
Settle down!
Dhampir-Moroi mastication
is a very serious allegation.
I'm gonna pretend I never read this.
Everyone turn to page three
of your handout.
But, Mr. Meisner,
you left out the best part.
About me and my boy, Jesse,
and that Dhamp tramp last night.
- What?
- Truth hurts, blood whore.
Christian, cut it out!
Kindly report to Headmistress
Kirova's office, Mr. Ozera.
- Down the hall, turn left.
- Like I need directions.
Lissa, Lissa, wait up.
Not here,
not in front of everyone.
What was that back there?
Fire magic in class?
- Uh-oh. Lovers' quarrel.
- Rose, I bleed for you.
No, it's Rose
who does the bleeding.
You can't beat up everyone
we have a problem with!
- Well, I can try.
- What is going on?
I told you, Jesse and I barely even
made out, and Ray wasn't even there,
so I don't even know
what he's talking about.
OK, yes. Teenage boys are
weak and sweaty piglets.
It is our covenant...
I'm talking about you and me.
How did they find out
about the feeding?
You know, when Jesse's fangs
came poking out, did you...
No, not even.
But... he did kind of suspect.
Lissa, let me explain, please!
Let me talk...
Is it true?
You're gonna have
to be more specific, Mason.
Jesse and Ray, and not just
hooking up, fanging up.
- They claim they fed while...
- Absolutely not...
Well, actually, Jesse and I
did make out a little, but...
- Where there's smoke, there's fire.
- Leave fire out of this.
You girls throw yourselves
at any douche bag
who happens
to be Moroi and royal.
Whoa, Duckie. I do not have time
to deal with your feelings right now.
OK.
Oh, God, come on, Lissa-vision.
Where are you when I need you?
You should thank me
for changing the news cycle.
It took something epic to take
animal death and blood whoring
off the Vampire Academy front page.
Please don't say "Vampire Academy."
I find the term to be quite...
You set someone on fire!
Come on. Did you see
any burn marks on him?
Now whoever killed that fox
is going to feel the real heat.
Is this your idea of chivalry?
You did not just flip your hair back.
That's your move.
She's flirting, folks.
If we used our magic as a weapon,
instead of just for warm
and fuzzy classroom exercises,
the Strigoi wouldn't be picking us off.
- Yes, but the rules forbid...
- The rules?
Lissa, I've seen the way
you tilt your head from time to time.
I'm very sure I don't know
what you're talking about.
Hey, compulsion must have been
a necessity in the outside world.
You can't know all my secrets. Yet.
Queen Tatiana?
I hope I did not take you
too much by surprise,
but sometimes your queen awakens
with a need to look upon her lovelies.
Where's Vasilisa?
Vasilisa Dragomir?
Please come up
and let me see the princess.
Not a day goes by
where we don't lament
the loss of your parents
and your brother.
The Dragomir name represents
the finest of Moroi qualities.
While you, Vasilisa Dragomir,
the last of the Dragomir line...
if you are our future,
I am less than impressed.
The power that comes from royal blood
must be used responsibly.
While you... you give us
dead animals, blood games,
escapes to Oregon. Shameful!
- Queen Tatiana, I can explain.
- Shh, shh, shh.
Not now, dear.
However, I have every confidence
that our dear Vasilisa
will turn things around.
Now, let us adjourn to the banquet hall.
My father would never
have done something like that.
After all that Lissa has been through,
to be shamed by our queen bee?
Don't you mean queen bee-etch?
You don't talk to Lissa like that.
So much for round-the-clock guardians.
Lissa?
Oh, my God.
- By the soul of St. Vladimir.
- Who would do something like this? Why?
Go to the wall, Nat. Talk to me.
What?
Yeah, OK.
Oh, God.
- It's fresh, and it's Moroi.
- OK, can you tell me if it's royal?
- Don't be absurd.
- Said the girl licking the wall.
I can tell you it's more
than one person's blood.
They misspelled "beware."
Lissa, I can clean it up. I'm sorry.
Leave it. The misspelling shows
it was just a bunch of stupid teenagers.
OK, you know what, I'm gonna
go start packing. I'm really...
No, Rose. We can't just keep running
away, at least until we know
what we're running away from.
Ooh! A mystery, how exciting.
We can be like
three Nancy Drews trying...
I hate mysteries. I would prefer
a good Strigoi attack at this point
because at least I'd know what
those homicidal bloodsuckers want.
No more. I am taking our
dear beloved queen's advice,
and I'm turning things around.
Jesse and Ray are pawns.
Mia is the mastermind.
Yeah, but we didn't even
really know Mini-Mia
when we were compelled to leave
for the first time.
Ms. Karp is the one
that we should be focused on.
Do what you have to do, Dhampir. I am
done trying to crawl under the radar.
It's not possible,
and... it's not effective.
Besides, I have a way of getting
people to see my side of the story.
Don't worry,
Natalie knows of my skills.
It was too exhausting
keeping it from her.
Are you going to use compulsion on Mia?
Where's the fun in that?
I'm going to use compulsion
on everyone but Mia.
But compulsion on such a large scale...
Magic should be used for something more
than warm and fuzzy classroom exercises.
Oh, God, and now
you're quoting Christian?
- What?
- Yeah, I was there.
And the poison that that freak
is pumping into your brain
makes me want to vomit.
Lissa, I'm the reckless,
and you're the cautious, remember?
You've already taken
too many hits for me, Rose.
Look, it's your turn
to have a little cry,
and it's my turn to kick a little ass.
Whoa!
You do not jump out
at a guardian like that.
I think you mean novice.
Just wanted to know
if Lissa was all right.
Queen Tatiana had no right
to bring up family.
- I should go and talk to Lissa.
- Oh, don't worry about it.
But I do.
Lissa and I have a bond.
A bond?
Listen, Chris,
just stay away from her.
She's had her little flirtation
with the dark side, and she's done.
Lissa used to like Hot Topic, too,
and then she turned 12.
I was only concerned.
There's a fine line
between concerned and stalker.
Seriously, Christian, go away.
It's what Lissa wants.
OK.
I thought we'd practice out here,
away from there.
Dimitri, I know you must
have heard some rumors.
All that high-school der'mo
stays back there, not here.
This is life and death.
The silver.
Don't be afraid of it.
Besides the sun, this stake is
your only friend against the Strigoi.
But you must subdue the monster
and bring yourself to kill.
Yeah, killing Strigoi is
what it's all about, right?
Most Strigoi were once Moroi.
Some turn themselves Strigoi
by killing during the feeding process.
But many are turned by force.
If you are going to thrust, thrust.
My point is you might have known
one personally, as a friend.
Can you kill someone you used to know?
I... If it was them or me or Lissa...
You hesitate,
and that hesitation could kill you.
You have to keep telling yourself that
they aren't the same people you knew.
Good. Very good.
I don't mean to belittle
what you are going through.
The queen crossed a line.
But the Dhampir must always bow down.
I get it. The Moroi come first.
Not always.
My father was a Moroi.
He visited Russia once a year.
He liked to hit my mother.
When I was old enough,
I liked to hit him.
He stopped visiting.
- How old is old enough?
- Ten.
The only parent I've ever
really had is the academy.
Your mother is one of the most feared
and respected Dhampir
guardians in the world.
I see you finally read her telegram.
You want to know what it said?
"Glad you're alive.
What you did was inexcusable. Mom."
Aw.
What do you know of your Moroi father?
That he must have had
dark eyes and amazing hair.
When I start killing Strigoi
left and right,
I'm gonna have to cut it
all off, won't I?
Sorry.
That sounded really girly.
You can wear it up.
Doesn't a Dhampir need to keep
their molnija marks exposed?
Don't ever cut your hair.
Wear it up.
You have to admire our queen.
Her elegance, her dignity,
her ability to recognize trash.
And my good mood is over.
You know, "beware" isn't spelled
with an "H" in it.
- Hey.
- Where's Lissa?
I haven't seen her,
but guess what?
I heard that Mia and Aaron are going
on that field trip
to the hemoglobin factory.
I figured it gives us a chance
to raid their rooms...
- Pretend to be talking to me.
- But I am talking to you.
It's nasty.
If you guys were doing it,
I'm not surprised
Rose got addicted and necked with Jesse.
She didn't do it with Jesse.
And it's not like we fornicated.
We just didn't have any feeders.
It's no big deal, Camilla.
Yeah, it's no big deal.
I mean, Jesse's a liar.
What are you guys doing tonight?
Shannon and I are going to her room
to study for Meisner's test.
Invite me.
Lissa, you want to study
with us tonight?
Sure.
Oh, look.
It's the queen's court jester.
You can't talk to me like that.
The queen treats me like a daughter,
so you should be envious.
You're buds with Mia.
What secrets are you keeping?
- I like to wear my mommy's knick...
- Not about you.
Secrets about Mia.
- Busted.
- Ow.
Did you witness how amazing I was?
I felt it. Using the power has
an effect, a cost, on both of us.
Look at you, you're shaking.
I'm shaking.
Three cups of coffee shaking.
More like 18 cups, dark roast, no room.
- I got it, the computer.
- What?
I told you.
Mia's on a field trip...
Hey, you. I'm sorry I haven't been
to church in a while, but...
It's OK. You don't have
to pretend anymore.
You've had your little
flirtation with the dark side.
- Check that box and move on.
- What are you talking about?
But, hey, nice hypocrisy
on the magic use.
So what? A stolen laptop.
Kirova strangled
Internet access years ago.
Yeah, St. Vlad's operates
on a closed network,
but there is more to a person
than status updates.
There's photos, receipts,
inter-academy e-mails.
You're making my brain bleed.
But you were sure right
about cuckoo Christian.
What a whack job.
Are you seriously going to that
study group with Camilla?
You know, you don't have
to use compulsion to be popular.
You may not recall, but you can
be quite charming on your own.
Who has the time?
Natalie, return that computer.
Later, losers.
Gosh.
I wish Lissa could compulse Ray
into being nicer.
And taking my virginity.
No one has ever
really seen me naked.
- Moroi, Dhampir, human, mineral.
- Uh-huh.
I once turned a plant around because
I was too shy to change in front of it.
You know I can't un-hear this, right?
- Sorry. Yeah, I...
- It's OK.
Though I'm not much better.
I'm crushing on my mentor, Dimitri,
who's, like, old enough to be my...
Not my father... like an uncle.
Like a disturbingly sexy uncle.
Andre?
What the hell is this?
Goodness gracious.
Andre, Andre?
That's Lissa's brother, isn't it?
Andre could have, like, any girl
he wanted, and he usually did.
Most of the girls knew the drill.
It was down low, no commitments and...
This is the face of a girl
who did not know the drill.
Holy moly.
Mia's not just angry at Lissa.
She despises the whole Dragomir line.
Right, which makes her someone willing
to take things to a whole other level.
OK, all right.
Take this back to Mia's room.
- Yeah?
- OK.
See ya.
Hey. To what do I owe this honor?
Can we talk, Oscar?
I'm worried about Lissa.
I love that our princess is learning
that the best defense is a good offense,
and believe me, I am all for putting
mad munchkin Mia in her place,
but this Operation Brainwash is turning
Lissa into something she's not.
She can't see that. I can.
It's like I feel Lissa's
feelings more than she does.
I need to put on my game face.
Can't wait around
for my next psychedelic flashback.
The stakes are too high.
Get it?
Dhampir? Fight with stakes?
Best defense, good offense.
I knew you'd improve.
No fair learning from a god.
I heard you were good
at taking on two guys at once.
Rose, uh, about Jesse and Ray...
- Mason...
- No, not that.
In the locker room, it was weird.
They had these bandages
on their wrists.
I don't know
if it means anything.
Covered wrists?
- Is that some new Moroi thing?
- Check out Mia.
- She's getting away.
- Let her.
Kirova's the one
I should be tracking.
I need to break
into Kirova's office today
when the fang gang
is asleep, OK?
There's a file in there that
could be the key to my past,
my present and my future.
That's it?
Sounds cool.
Forty-five minutes of silence.
It has to be a Rose Hathaway record.
OK.
What do you know about Ms. Karp?
Karp? She retired before I even arrived.
Kirova, Victor, you.
I ask about Karp, and it's
no eye contact and a subject change.
Enough. Your training of late
has been quite...
- ...fine.
- Fine? That's it?
What do you want me to say?
That you are a remarkable quick study?
That you bring originality
to classic moves?
Yeah, I want you to say
all those things.
Good night, Rose.
What did I do wrong? I had you.
The battle cry was your first mistake.
I like your laugh.
Singular, not plural.
It's the first time I've heard it.
So even if I wouldn't have screamed,
you still would have stopped me, right?
Probably, but nice initiative.
Keep trying those surprise attacks.
It's good training for both of us.
So, uh... you have any other
moves you want to show me?
I give it and they take it, but when it
comes back, it's not the same, is it?
I give it and they take it,
but when it comes back,
it's not the same, is it?
They're coming to get me.
But they want something
that I can't give them.
Those of us who never declared, those
of us who have powers that have no name,
there's only so much we can do,
only so much we can handle.
I should have gone with Vasilisa.
I should have.
I'm so alone.
The clarity of the darkness beckons.
I just want it to go away, the shaking,
the scratching, nightmares, all go away.
Lissa. The king and queen
of the school together again,
- the way it should be.
- Lissa!
It's you and I who are destined
to be together.
Let me handle this.
Look at what you made me do to myself,
just like my damn parents.
Lissa!
I have a new family now.
Strigoi brothers and sisters, attack!
- Rose, what's happening?
- Stay close, right behind me,
just like we practiced.
OK. It's not looking great,
but we will get through this, Lissa,
we always do.
Dimitri?
Oh, Rose, you worry too much.
Lissa, no.
What are friends for?
No.
No!
Rose, are you there?
Did you feel that one?
What a weird dream.
Yeah. Yeah, Liss, weird dream.
Don't you dare feel sorry for me.
Feel sorry for her,
for the princess.
I lied.
Lissa doesn't think
that you're a creepy stalker.
She actually likes you.
Then why did you...?
Because I think
that you're a creepy stalker,
and I actually
don't like you, but...
I like the way that Lissa feels
when she's around you.
So what?
Look at her. She's back on top.
She's not happy. She's not
herself, not as she wants to be.
Trust me, I know, Christian.
I can f...
Shadow-kissed Anna did all she could,
but on some days, Satan's darkness
seeped into St. Vladimir,
weakening his health and mind.
See, Christian,
I don't want that to be Lissa.
You are the phantom here. You must know
where they keep the books and scrolls
and whatnot, and I need to figure out
what her abilities...
You sabotaged the first good thing
to happen to me in a long time,
and now you want me to help you?
Ugh. God.
Princess party in the royal rec room.
There's my blood bitch.
What took you so long?
It's great that you can joke about it.
Lissa, listen.
A lot has happened.
We have to sit down
and have a real conversation.
Stop being so serious, Rose.
It's a party.
- Hey, Natalie.
- Hi.
Awesome party, huh?
Check this.
Can you say "keg magic"?
Wow, Lissa, you can really do it all.
Well, of course I can.
I'm the princess.
But doing it all is wrong, right?
Fire, air, fire, air, fire,
air, fire, air,
- fire...
- Hey.
Aaron.
Rose! Where are you going?
You weren't just going to bail
without saying goodbye.
I need to go home
and sleep you off.
Oh, is the bond making you
as buzzed as I am?
God, you are burning
us both out on magic.
Stop worrying. It's working.
Weeks have gone by, and Mia is toast.
No threats, no notes, no foxes.
You're just bummed that I, not you,
have neutralized the threat.
You neutralized a threat,
not "the" threat.
And Aaron, seriously,
you really want to show up
to the Equinox Dance with that?
He's... cute.
And incredibly boring.
You think everyone's boring.
Christian's not.
No, you were right about him.
I knew "little flirtation with the dark
side" sounded like one of your lines.
- Sorry.
- You know what? You can have Christian.
You're both savages.
Lissa, what I've been trying to tell you
is that you're making
this about high school,
and it's about something more.
Natalie... Are you nuts?
What are you thinking?
Trust me, you do not want
to have to get a nose job in Montana!
Sorry. I'm sorry. It's...
When you both left
the party, I had no one to...
Everyone kept staring
at me, so I left,
and on my way back to the dorms,
I swear, someone...
more like something,
started to follow me.
I just... I don't know.
I'm probably just being paranoid.
That's not paranoia.
- That's a psi-hound.
- Rose thinks everything is a psi-hound.
What's a psi-hound?
- What's my backpack doing over there?
- Lissa, no.
Lissa!
Oscar! Oh, my God.
Oscar.
- Lissa, just...
- No, Rose!
Shadow-kissed Rose,
you're bound to Lissa,
and it's up to you to help her.
Don't you understand?
The more that Lissa uses her powers,
the worse it'll get.
The more dangerous it will be.
They came for me.
They'll come for her.
What are you talking about?
Is it the Strigoi?
This isn't about Strigoi.
Not everything to be feared roams
outside the gates of St. Vladimir's.
- I don't understand.
- Oh, you couldn't understand it.
You don't have to understand.
Look at me.
No, please, Ms. Karp,
not compulsion, please.
- I beg of you, please!
- I'm not taking your memories away.
Just hiding them for a bit.
Lissa's life is in peril.
You only need to know you have
to get her away from the academy.
Forget everything I've said
until it's time not to forget.
I guess you could say
that it was half-repression
and half-compulsion,
and when you asked me
why we left the academy
in the first place,
a part of me couldn't remember.
I just knew that we had to get out.
Outrageous.
What Headmistress Kirova means to say
is that it was brave of you
to come forward, Rose.
Well, I'm doing it for Lissa.
She needs help.
But is it really true
she can bring the dead to life?
Dead's dead...
but from the brink of death.
Not since St. Vladimir,
and he never declared a magic, either.
But there is no actual proof
to anything you're saying.
We found no cameras,
and the compulsion alone
can only be done in specific
environments by trained professionals.
Well, Lissa had no problem doing it
to you, right in your own office.
Surely, you had to wonder why you didn't
just throw me out of school.
It's outrageous.
Enough, please.
Ms. Sonya Karp. I want to see
the Day Six footage.
I've had a rough night.
Don't make me crawl
through a ventilator shaft
and lower myself down into
the security center on a wire.
Headmistress, we have no right to keep
Rose in the dark for as long as we have.
All right. All right.
Take her downstairs.
Show her everything.
Show us Karp Day Six, please. Thank you.
I knew this is
what you were looking for.
Couple months after you left,
Ms. Karp had a complete breakdown.
And did the doctors
find a way to help her?
She found a way to help herself.
Karp was not like the others.
She didn't become Strigoi
for the power or the immortality.
She just... wanted the pain to go away.
Nobody likes to talk about it,
but the most effective way
for the undeclared to take away
their special anxiety
is for them to take a life
and become Strigoi.
Strigoi have an inner clarity.
No feelings. No worries.
No weakness.
She got away.
We don't know where she is now.
Roza? Roza, calm down.
- I'll protect you.
- Roza?
It's not Karp. It's Lissa.
She's upstairs,
and she's... she's pissed.
Cuts on my arm?
Is that what she said?
And without the use
of a blade, no less.
I know I've been having trouble
declaring a magic,
but that seems a pretty pointless skill.
Allow me to put your mind at ease.
Rose is a dear friend,
but she has a talent for tall tales.
Kirova's letting herself be compulsed
even after I gave the compulsion speech!
It's classic!
Ever since the accident,
it's like my life
has been on autopilot.
I guess in Ms. Karp's own
spooky way, she was trying
to help me figure it all out,
but who do I have now?
There is another person
who can help you.
He is on our flags, posters, uniforms
and the statue
in the middle of the school.
St. Vladimir?
OK. I'm on it.
So, is this where the outcast
losers hang out?
- How did you know...?
- Books on St. Vladimir. Now.
Before, I was asking.
This is me telling.
- God, you're annoying.
- I'm right that this could help Lissa.
Yeah. That's what's so annoying.
Come on.
God, what's a girl got to do
to get a definition
- of "shadow-kissed" up in this...
- Check this out.
"Vladimir had mastered
a very rare magic,
Spirit."
All this time,
Lissa's been beating herself up
about not being able to declare a magic.
Oh, my God, if she only knew.
This makes Lissa more special
and valuable
than I ever even imagined.
I guess I should be happy that the bad
guys aren't trying to kill Lissa,
but it kind of just makes things more
sick and disgusting.
What do they want from Lissa?
What is the point of killing her cat
and setting up cameras?
- Who could be that cruel?
- Headmistress Kirova could be.
And Mia likes to film her pranks.
- That...
- I know.
Both a little on the nose, but...
No, maybe they're so obvious
that they're not obvious.
I did see Kirova with Mia
the other night.
OK, my conspiracy theory of choice
is that someone might be
trying to drive Lissa mad,
to take her
out of throne contention.
I mean, we all know
Queen Tatiana has her issues.
All three witches
could be working together.
I like the way your mind works.
Just hold that thought.
"At times, after the expense
of power and in times of trauma,
Vladimir's agony would manifest
directly onto his skin."
So this proves that Lissa's not a freak.
Sort of. I mean, it shows
that she could be rehabilitated.
Wait. Lissa does something
like that to herself?
- Cuts and scars and...
- Yes.
Christian, she really could have used
your support these past few weeks.
You agreed Lissa hasn't been herself.
It's her fault we're not together.
God, the female, especially one
who lives off of blood and magic,
is going to have her mood swings.
It is never the girl's fault,
even when it is the girl's fault.
No one ever explained that to you?
You know, if you weren't so psychotic,
you'd be fun to hang outwith.
Same to you, creep.
Thank you.
OK, bye.
- OK.
- See ya.
What were you doing with Rose?
You were fornicating, weren't you?
Fornicat... We were reading.
We discovered a magic
called Spirit. You have it.
Ms. Karp had it,
and so did St. Vladimir.
- He used to cut himself, too.
- Rose told you that?
- I'm gonna kill her.
- Look, stop it, Lissa.
We're trying to help you.
I know now if you don't have any family,
you need as many friends
as you possibly...
I don't need friends
or family or pets or...
I hate you!
You liar.
- Lissa, listen...
- Don't "Lissa, listen" me.
- You've ruined my life.
- Oh, bite me.
- You wish, blood whore.
- Wow.
OK, Lissa,
I need you to understand.
We can learn how St. Vladimir
used Spirit...
- Did you kill my cat?
- Hey,
Oscar and I's relationship
was on the mend.
Lissa, this is important.
Ms. Karp turned herself Strigoi.
She didn't do it to become evil.
She did it to take away from
the scratching and the shaking.
I mean...
which future do you want,
a sick and soulless one like Karp's
or an epic one like Vladimir's?
Stop talking to me
about the past and the future,
because I only care about the present.
You know, if you have to choose one,
pick the one that's happening right now.
I am Princess Vasilisa Dragomir.
I'm the last of the Dragomir line.
If they see I'm weak, they'll attack.
This isn't about a "they" anymore.
This is about you! This is...
You're awake, finally.
The princess has been going
through feeders all morning.
How are you?
I don't know. You tell me.
I'm afraid to even look.
I can move it,
that's a good sign, right?
Rose, I don't know
how to say this, but...
you are not injured.
That's easy for you to say, comrade.
I heard the crack. I saw the bone...
Sorry to interrupt.
- Hey.
- Hi.
- Here.
- Thanks.
So, I saw Aaron go by.
- I kicked him to the curb.
- Mmm.
When I saw your leg, I got
everything out of my system.
- Everything.
- Thanks for that, by the way.
Ugh.
I'm so glad you're both alive
and not at each other's throats.
This whole matter of Spirit
has taken us by surprise.
Until the advisers arrive from Romania,
we'll be sequestering
you both into a bunker,
away from any excitement.
No classes, and obviously
you will not be attending
- the Equinox Dance tonight.
- Oh, nonsense.
Please, you have to come.
I'm gonna go with the headmistress
on this one, Prince Dashkov.
Besides, we're all forgetting
the most important thing.
- We have nothing to wear.
- There the gods have smiled upon us.
Today is an overcast day,
and I have engineered
a little shopping expedition.
Please? You know
how much I need your help.
And plus, when has shopping
ever not cheered you up, Lissa?
Where is Rose?
OK.
What was that about?
It's just a little something Dimitri
and I do to keep each other on our toes.
Wow, that was weak. How long have
you been in crush with him?
I am... very sure that I don't
know what you're talking about.
- So, do I get a silver stake?
- That would be a... no.
But remember, today you are
not just Lissa's friend.
Spiridon.
Ain't likely any Strigoi
is gonna make a play
in a public place in broad daylight,
but if Dimitri ain't
giving you a stake, missy,
you should have one of these bad boys.
'Causes a blinding flash of
UV light. Buy you some time.
Well, at least someone
thinks I'm worth a weapon.
So, my superpower turned
out to also be my Kryptonite.
Wow, Your Highness
with the pop culture reference.
You know, I...
I confused power with popularity.
Ever wonder what it'd be
like to be like that?
It's not our destiny.
Destiny? I hate that word.
You know, "royal responsibility,"
"the Moroi come first,"
it's all so twisted.
It's not twisted. I'm your Dhampir
and you're my Moroi. Done.
Some days we're kooky teenagers,
and other days I'm risking
my neck to protect you
from an ancient race
of predatory vampires...
or whoever else,
and that's life.
At least until they come up
with a better word for it.
Somebody looks tense.
Free massage?
I'm really sorry.
I'm so sorry, OK?
Run.
Ms. Karp, I understand all that,
but Mia and my brother...
don't think so.
Andre was generous and funny
and amazing,
but... he could kind of be a player.
Lissa, don't look like you don't
know what I'm talking about,
'cause I can feel you, OK?
You know, I hate having
a best friend I can't lie to.
Do you really think
Mini-Mia's behind everything?
No, not exactly.
But I think we'll find out tonight.
Tomorrow you're getting sequestered away
by Spirit advisers,
so the dance is the last chance
for anybody to try to get to you.
Look, if you could put a pin
in all that, we have more vital matters.
Finding you a dress.
I can go into my trust fund.
I could not possibly accept that.
That's your dress. That's
the dress you were born to wear.
Lissa, we have more important
things to do than sh...
That is my dress.
Thank you, sir, and if
you could just sign here?
And that is your necklace.
That is my necklace.
That's not your necklace.
So not my necklace.
Did you take my lip gloss?
Corpse Number Five?
Like I'd wear your pale-ass lip gloss.
No way.
Natalie, you look gorgeous.
Rose... this is for you,
from my father.
That's my necklace.
Daddy saw you looking at it. Here.
- How does it look?
- Beautiful.
All right, ladies.
I don't know what's
gonna happen tonight.
At this point, I can't remember
who loves us and who hates us...
but I do know that we are
going to own this dance.
Let's make tonight our bitch.
Not much of a reaction
from your boyfriend.
He's not my boyfriend, but...
grading on the Dimitri curve,
a huge reaction... mammoth, gargantuan.
Come here.
Genuinely un-small.
Christian Ozera.
At a school dance.
After this week, I thought I'd lost
the ability to be surprised.
I'm sorry about that kiss the other day.
What about the one right now?
- Rose.
- Hey, what's up?
- OK.
- Rose, you look...
No, you don't get to stare at her.
I took it upon myself to talk
to these royal pains in the butt.
Hmm.
Don't you have something to say?
- We're sorry.
- Hmm.
We didn't do anything to you
that we said we did.
You're telling something that never
happened actually never happened?
Thanks.
Mia let us have sex with her
if we obeyed her.
I tagged the note at the church
and air-blasted the memorial.
What did you think
of the scary screen saver?
We actually put a lot of work into that.
And the bloody one just happened.
We thought it'd be fun to all
hook up in the princess's room,
and things got out of hand, literally.
It's called blood splash.
It's a new Moroi fad,
where when things get hot and sticky,
you fang open your wrist and spray.
Ew! Stop. I nap on that couch.
OK, what about the cat?
We thought it was a fox.
Hurting animals... that's disgusting.
Said the creepy blood splasher.
Please, Rose, don't kick my ass.
Go dance with Natalie.
Go, now.
Oh, Jesse.
- Who's the man?
- You are so the man.
Break the case wide open
and I still only get the cheek.
Ouch.
Ever feel like you're being watched?
Can we pretend the past
month never happened?
Why were you in the hospital?
Pregnant?
- I guess not.
- Herpes?
Maybe your baby has herpes.
I don't care if it's true. I'll tell...
- Go away, Mia.
- Why are you Dragomirs such drags?
First Andre, then you steal Aaron
from me and don't even keep him.
- I don't need this.
- I vow to take down the entire...
I'll fire-magic you into ash.
I'll just water-magic myself
before you can...
Gosh, you two are a riot.
Allow me, Mr. Ozera.
Rose, I hear you and the princess
are friends again.
Too bad... could have made
a great team.
Oh, nice wrist corsage, Splashy.
Your sex slaves told me
everything, and poor Aaron
had no idea what a sociopath
you really are.
- I'll bet you did off Lissa's cat.
- Oscar? I gave him treats.
I would never hurt a kitty.
Oh, my God, you poor little...
All this time, me thinking
that you're a villain
when you're really just...
you're just an insecure little girl
in desperate need of attention.
Everyone saw that I tried
to take the high road there.
- Rose.
- Sort of.
If Mia didn't do it, that means there's
a bigger threat still out there.
- Hathaway, you're out of here.
- Lissa's run off. I didn't see where.
Oh, God, if only there was a secret
place that she went to when she was sad.
- Right.
- Genius.
OK, OK.
OK.
Please, please, please, please.
- Christian.
- We need to get you somewhere safe.
- Just a little longer in the moonlight.
- No, no.
Our moonlight.
OK, now we need to go.
Lissa.
Headmistress Kirova,
we need to get Dimitri.
- The princess is in trouble.
- She's not the only one.
- You don't understand.
- I do understand, Rose.
I understand more than you'll ever...
I could have been a model.
A man in Milan gave me
his card when I was 16.
Dimitri? Dimitri, open up.
Dimitri, something has happened.
Rose, what's wrong?
What's right?
Sweet sassy molassey.
What do you want, Rose?
Some of that.
This is insane.
What are we doing?
Everything.
I love your dress.
Let's burn it.
Love charms... hypnotic,
dangerous, put over jewelry...
Forget about it. Lissa's been kidnapped.
We have to hurry.
Report from the gate.
Nothing's come in or out.
They're still on academy ground...
Have you cleared this with Kirova?
Better to beg forgiveness
than ask permission.
Yeah, and I put a sedative in her ass.
Let me concentrate.
You've got to be kidding me.
- What is it?
- Nothing. Hold on. OK.
He's coming in.
Check the blindfold.
No compulsion tonight.
I can't make out anything
through the blindfold,
but I know that voice.
It's... that guardian.
- Oh, no.
- "Oh, no," what?
"Oh, no," who.
The bad guy's Victor Dashkov.
Welcome, Vasilisa.
How was the dance?
It's officially tomorrow,
and, as promised,
we have much to talk about.
Forgive me if I don't make eye contact.
- I've seen you in action.
- Why are you doing this?
My dear, the simple truth is,
I need you to heal me.
Testing you
with the animals was misguided,
but earth-magicking the cement
and shattering Rose's ankle
was supremely clarifying.
You're forgetting something.
My bond with Rose
is practically a psychic GPS.
Ah, yes, but the necklace
gift that I gave to Rose
is bathed in
a very expensive love charm,
and she is a little too preoccupied
to be of much use to you.
That's what you think, mother...
Victor wants her to heal him.
You were my family's
most cherished friend.
Why didn't you just ask me?
How touching...
genuinely, my darling,
but a chronic disease
like my Sandovsky's needs
continual healings,
and then there is the other matter.
The physical toll on me.
Yes, Spirit users take their
power from their own essence.
To heal another requires
giving part of oneself,
and it can destroy one over time.
You want me to give up
my life for yours.
Basically.
But, you see, my dear,
I am much more
important than you,
and the Moroi need a strong leader,
but my disease means
that I cannot occupy my rightful place
upon the throne.
But you shouldn't bother
your pretty little head
about all this royal intrigue.
Guess what, Victor.
The spirit in this pretty little
head isn't going to heal you.
- You can't make me.
- Bring in Kenneth.
Do you know somebody
named Kenneth?
Your compulsion won't
work on Kenneth.
He's blind, but he's one of the Moroi's
most ingenious air users.
- Shall we begin? Heal me.
- Go to hell.
You're up, Kenneth.
Rose?
Don't stop. They're torturing her.
Heal me.
Now he's...
Ah, Lissa.
Heal me.
My...
this really worked out.
Take the girl upstairs till departure.
Rose, stay here. It's too dangerous,
you'll just get in the way.
- But...
- Do I really need to remind you
the last time I said "stay in the car"
and was disobeyed?
No, I totally understand.
Good luck.
- You're not really staying, are you?
- What do you think?
But what did Dimitri mean
by "last time I said 'stay in the car" '?
He was talking about
another girl from another time.
She was a novice.
I'm a guardian.
Let's roll, fire magic.
I need a seeing-eye dog.
Take my arm.
The princess is upstairs.
No, no, not this way.
- Rose.
- Keep going.
- It's right up there.
- Rose!
What?!
Spiridon, send for the girl.
We're ready now.
I believe you can fly.
Feel free to chime in
at any time with some fire magic.
Maybe a ring of flame around the knob?
I've never really worked outside
a classroom setting before.
Forget it, she's gone.
Stop trying to save yourself, Liss.
Stupid one-way bond.
Psi-hounds.
Expensive to breed, difficult to train,
but there is no denying
the brilliance of the psi-hounds.
They will stalk the princess,
maneuver her,
but they won't attack
unless I say the word.
I presume you can deal with that?
They say Dimitri is a god.
Well, I'm an atheist...
an atheist with a big gun.
That's it? Seriously?
I've waited for this moment.
Do you know what it's like to always be
referred to as the second best guardian?
No.
Are you OK?
- Did you see what Victor did?
- I know. What an asshole.
I hate to interrupt, but unless
either of you can fly a chopper,
maybe we should get going.
Lissa, get back.
Rose, be a dear
and step away from the princess.
I don't want to accidentally
shoot her when I'm shooting you.
You heard him, he won't shoot me.
- I am your guardian.
- No, Rose, you can't do this.
Lissa, don't you dare fight.
Lissa.
- You're worse than a Strigoi.
- Christian!
Do you know what I like most
about the psi-hounds?
They're wonderful at tracking.
They're even better at killing.
Attack!
No.
Now, that's some freaking fire magic.
Rose, I need to save him,
but I can't.
Victor took everything, all my energy.
Power up, Princess.
This has been a night
that St. Vladimir's will never forget.
We have extra guardians manning the
academy perimeter. Nothing can get in.
Victor Dashkov will be confined
to a holding cell downstairs
until he can be transferred to the Royal
Court Prison to await trial.
How's Natalie? She worshipped her
father. She must be devastated.
The other members of the Dashkov family
are removing her from school.
For the best.
Uh-oh, Rose. This came for you.
Oh, great.
Uh, Dimitri, one last thing...
The time gap after Rose so dramatically
burst out of my office...
It should all be explained
in the other file.
A Nobu charm was put on a necklace
Rose had been wearing.
The spell caused Rose to attack
me and me to attack her.
I disengaged the necklace before
critical... violence could occur.
Mmm.
Hey, we should probably talk
about what happened earlier.
I just want you to know
I would never use the words
"sweet sassy molassey"
unless under the influence.
It is not a matter
of amusement or discussion.
- It was horrific.
- Horrific...
isn't really the first
adjective that comes to mind.
Don't make light of this.
It's one thing if I were
36 and you were 28,
or me 28 and you 20.
That's a lot of math for someone
who's not interested.
Your life is about
homework, dances, parties.
How can you say that
after what happened?
It's what it should be about.
I'm not interested in you in that way.
- OK.
- It was...
just a spell.
- Let it go.
- Got it.
- Rose?
- Yeah?
You're still here?
I'm not sure how I feel about this,
but Victor has requested
a moment of your time.
Yeah, no, that's not gonna happen.
He said something about you
being "shadow-kissed"?
She's not going. That's final.
Don't tell me what to do.
You look good, Vic.
Which is ironic, considering it
means more time rotting in jail.
Don't take this
the wrong way, Rose, but...
I probably should
have killed you.
There's a compliment in there somewhere.
I spent a lot of money on that charm.
It didn't quite work out
the way I wanted.
Mmm. It worked out well enough.
Caused a man with no interest in me
to burn off my dress, so...
You're so tough, so one-of-a-kind.
But you're still a girl.
All this has happened,
and what you want to know is,
"Does Dimitri really like me?"
It's a powerful charm, Rose,
but it's not that powerful.
There has to be a degree of affection
and attraction already in place.
Happy?
- Shadow-kissed?
- Ah, yes. I owe you that.
You see, I didn't begin
to track Vasilisa
with some silly old raven.
My eye was on her long before.
I've seen the accident report.
And there's absolutely no way
that either of you should have survived.
The accident was what woke
her spirit in the first place.
The fear of seeing you dead
made it burst out,
allowing her to heal,
made you form your bond.
Rose...
you've been kissed by shadows.
You've crossed over into death,
into the other side,
and returned.
Don't you think that leaves
a mark on the soul... somewhere?
That's why you're not afraid
to show your feelings, Rose,
your passion, your anger.
That's what makes you remarkable. Yes.
But it's ironic... considering.
Considering what?
Considering I'll have to kill you.
Natalie. You made your own
daughter turn Strigoi?
And how do you think I can
circumvent the outside security?
I'd do anything for my daddy.
All that training, and yet,
I'm going to obliterate you.
You see, Natalie was
not the innocent you thought she was.
In fact, she was the one
who provided me with the intel
regarding you, Dimitri and Vasilisa.
The cat was my idea.
Daddy wanted to do another fox.
Father, look.
Rose does choke before Strigoi.
I don't understand.
To become a Strigoi,
don't you have to...
Yes.
I chose Ray to be my first.
Killing him was a lot more fun
than losing my virginity
to him would've been.
And with a lot more blood.
Too soon?
Hey, Victor?
Aren't you afraid
your new Strigoi daughter
won't be able to resist
your Moroi veins?
Don't be ludicrous.
I'm gonna wait outside, Natalie.
Finish her off.
You don't know what high school
is like for a loser like me.
I was so scared all the time...
so weak, so sad, so lame.
Now my eyesight is perfect,
my skin is clear, and so is my mind.
I may be dead,
but I have never felt so alive.
How awesome for you.
Say cheese.
Rose?
Oh.
Maybe I won't kill you.
Maybe I'll make you just like me.
That way, we can be friends
forever and ever.
BFF!
Who's choking now?
Roza, Roza.
Oh, my Roza.
Lissa, you're gonna want
to see this.
I don't believe my eyes. You got him
wearing a color other than black.
Baby steps.
Oh, Rose, wait.
There's so much to read here.
Apparently, Vladimir and Anna
almost drowned in this flood,
but he saved them from certain
death, and listen to this.
"It took many years for Vladimir
to master the power of his Spirit."
Despite his sufferings and delusions,
he never contemplated
the way of the Strigoi,
because he always had the strength
"of his shadow-kissed guardian,
Anna, to see him through."
Similarities. Weird.
Well, Christian, for us, weird...
Doesn't begin to cover it.
Do I have to?
It's time.
God, not her. Not now.
And once again, this grotesque
maelstrom of indecency
seems centered
on one royal individual.
- Where's Vasilisa Drag...
- Thank you, Your Majesty,
for allowing me to clear the air.
I finally declared a magic,
and it's called Spirit.
It may take years to get a handle on it,
but I have a bunch of wise men
in robes to help me out.
And yes, that was not a mirage
you saw on the dance floor.
My boyfriend is Christian Ozera,
and his parents were Strigoi.
Get over it. He has.
I'm not quite sure what you think...
Shh! Not now, dear.
Blood.
Blood is what connects us all.
Blood is sustenance.
Blood is family.
Blood is pain, and blood is death,
be it the fang of the Strigoi
or a drunk driver
on the wrong side of the road.
Blood is many things,
and sometimes it gets
so crazy and confusing
that you need a best friend
to tell you, "it's OK."
It's all life, at least until they come
up with a better word for it."
Unfortunately, you can't
all have a Rose Hathaway.
I'm very lucky that she's mine,
but if you don't have a soul mate,
by Vlad, the least you deserve
is kindness and dignity and something
more original than gossip,
snobbiness, slut-shaming and bullying.
Let's prove that Moroi blood
is worth protecting.
What do you say, everyone?
No more bad blood.
So, that's Natalie, huh?
Looks... fresh.
I'm sorry.
I had to.
I'm sorry.
- I hesitated.
- Rose...
you're so brave
and strong and bold.
Sadly, you'll have many
other opportunities to kill Strigoi.
You lied about your feelings for me.
Yes. I did.
Why would you do that?
It's more than my age
and my position at the academy.
Our allegiance is to the Moroi.
If I let myself love,
I wouldn't throw myself
in front of the princess.
I would throw myself in front of you.
It's funny.
Your reasons
for not loving me just...
make me love you more.
I want you to kiss me without
a magic charm forcing you to do it.
That's not a great idea.
Please.
"Everyone's at the banquet.
Just"
one last kiss.
Yes! Yes, yes!
Yes! Are you not entertained?!
My name is Rose Hathaway,
and I'm not your normal teenage girl,
but I guess,
is there really such a thing?
Every life has rules, traditions,
friends and enemies,
sheer terror and incredible joy,
but I've learned...
Whoa! Watch where
you're going there, bird.
Are you kidding me?
It's you, isn't it?
Come...
my shadow-kissed soul mate.
Well, same to you, buddy!
NOW!
Soon.