Chapter One:

Rose looked up at Dimitri. Wasn't being with him like this better than not being with him at all? He wasn't going to come again. He wasn't going to ask again. Maybe it was time to do what Dimitri wanted her to do. He was right. She did want him. She wanted him more than she could ever want anyone else. Maybe being a Strigoi wouldn't be that bad.

He looked at her and she looked up at him. There was no way she could say yes, but then again how could she say no? She hated having to keep thinking about what was right. And damn it she wanted that bite! She wanted it so badly it hurt. She wanted him. All of him. And he wouldn't give it unless she became the monster he is. But, he doesn't look like a monster. He looks like he's always looked. A little paler, yes, and his eyes were never that cold or ringed with red. But, it was still Dimitri.

"Okay, I'm ready. Tur…Awaken me." She said making up her mind.

His eyes widened with something like surprise, but then settled into a smile. A terrible smile that seemed predatory, but a smile nonetheless. He moved quickly and sunk his teeth in before Rose could even change her mind let alone think. She faded off into a blissful high feeling as though she were going to sleep. When she woke up she'd be a Strigoi.

Dimitri watched as Rose slowly changed. He watched as the wave of brown black hair became thicker, shinier. Her features started to turn predatory. The beauty enhanced exponentially. Though he didn't really care about that. He all ready knew she'd only turn more perfect as she came into the change. She was changed. He had what he needed. He had his ally and he'd gotten rid of the one person who could destroy him. He was almost certain Rose would have killed him if given a second chance, but now that he'd gotten her to become one of them? She'd stay with him out of loyalty.

A day and a half had passed. Galina had come in and observed. He'd almost ripped Nathan's throat out when he tried to attack Rose's resting form. When he took over that damn blonde would be the first to go. How dare he try to kill her! When she woke up she'd give her that stupid servant bitch Nathan was so fond of to drink from first. It would feel like proper revenge to Rose after that stupid cunt attacked her.

"Rose, you need to wake up. Now. You're taking too long." He snapped at the sleeping form.

A thought came to him, "Roza, I need you to wake up."

Her eyes flickered and Dimitri felt a triumphant smile come onto his face.

"Roza, wake up. Don't you want Nathan to pay for attacking you the way he did? Think of how good it will be to kill Inna. To drain her dry for attacking you."

A predatory smile came onto Rose's face. And her eyes flickered more.

"That's my girl." He said darkly, "Come on, Roza. You have always been my equal. Wake up and we'll show this world who truly owns it."

Her eye lids opened slowly and she looked up at him. Her eyes were ice cold. They looked black against the paleness of her skin. The red rim was prominent as was the anger. She launched herself at him with such power and grace she caught him off guard. She snarled at him throwing him against the wall.

He instantly threw himself into such a familiar fight. He knew if he didn't over power Rose fast she'd think she was the dominant. And that wouldn't do at all. That's all she understood right now; violence, dominance, and blood. She fought back ferociously. He grinned at the challenge she imposed. It wasn't like with the others. It amused him slightly, but irritated him even more. Why was she fighting him? He was her creator. Her job was to obey him. He finally grabbed her and slammed her onto the floor. He jumped on her and she snarled back at him.

"Get a hold of yourself, Roza. Or I won't bring you your treat." He said coldly to the thrashing figure beneath him.

She snarled, but stopped struggling, her head tipping to the side in morbid curiosity.

"Get off me." She said her voice deadly low.

"Ask nicely." He commanded with a sneer.

"Get the fuck off me, Dimitri. Just because you asserted your dominance like a dumb dog doesn't mean I won't rip you to shreds the minute your back is turned." She snapped.

He laughed coldly. I'd like to see you try."

She growled again this time bucking up against him.

He chuckled darkly, "Roza, have you all ready forgotten what we talked about while you were that inferior creature? And have you forgotten that you've never been able to take me down."

"Oh, please, like I care what we talked about before this! And I'll damn well try to take you down! All I give a damn about is you getting off of me and getting me something to fucking eat!" she barked.

"Then say the magic word." He said darkly.

Rose gave him a dazzlingly cold smile and her voice was dripping with sickening sweetness, "Dimitri, please, get the FUCK OFF ME!" she roared.

Dimitri didn't care that she'd ended up commanding him at the end. It was just another show of dominance to get her to use the word 'please'. She had to know who was in charge and he was going to make her see that no matter what. He got off of her and pulled her up with him. She instantly yanked away and he laughed darkly again. Her eyes narrowed into little slits of hatred.

He pulled her toward him and kissed her with more force than he intended to. She growled, but this time with desire. She pulled him more forcibly to her and deepened the kiss. Before they even realized Dimitri was half dressed and Rose's dress and langerie was all ready on the floor. Dimitri's hands were everywhere. But, before anything could happen she pulled back slightly.

"You ever do that again and I swear I'll run to Galina faster than you can say 'Buria'." She warned talking about the incident a few minutes ago and the marks that used to mar her perfect skin before.

He growled in delight, "Oh, Roza, you are as dangerous and dark as I imagined. You'll do well."

He smothered her again with his kiss. But, the sound of the door open stopped them instantly.

Involuntary growling began low in Rose's throat. She sniffed the air and only one word passed through her mind at the scent Hate. Nathan was in their suite. In their room.

"He must really have a death sentence." She said with coolness Dimitri had never heard her use before.

She casually pushed Dimitri off of her and got to her feet just as casually unworried. She took the silk robe from its place beside her bed and tossed it over her naked body not even bothering to close it. Nathan looked at her with mild disgust and mild desire. Rose knew how hot she was. She knew Nathan wanted her. But, if he so much as touched her she'd kill him no matter what Galina wanted. Better yet, Dimitri would rip him to shreds while he was still alive.

"What are you doing in here." She demanded.

His gazing instantly stopped and his face came up to look at her, "You're awake. Good. Galina wants to see you and your boy toy."

"Fine," she aloofly, "You can see your way out now."

She turned away before she heard and smelled Inna. She turned and gazed at the puny defenseless annoying human. She stared and the girl began to twitch finally turning from her.

"And keep your toy out of my sight. If I so much as see her, she's dead. I'm tired of her disrespect."

Inna rounded on her screaming in Russian. Rose didn't care what she was saying even if she could understand. All she knew was that she was being disrespected and by a disgusting human no less. Nathan saw her intent, but was too slow to stop her. She pulled Inna to her and bit into the soft supple neck letting the warm blood seep into her throat. Such relief. The burning that had been at the back of her mind finally abated as she drank from Inna. She could feel the fear and hatred which made her drink even more intensely.

That's when she sensed it. She could sense Dimitri's pleasure. She could sense Nathan's disgust and anger, and even lust. Her senses expanded she could feel Dimitri's emotions as though they were her own. He was pleased and Rose liked that. She didn't realize that her robe had fallen off her until she felt Dimitri's hard body pressed against her back. She roared in delight turning to kiss him with blood-stained lips. He smiled licking blood off that she left behind as Rose felt Inna's life force disappear into oblivion.

She turned back to Nathan and smiled maliciously, "Oops, accident."

Galina was surprised by how delighted she was with the newest addition. She could feel that this newest addition would be her greatest asset yet. Dimitri had been right. She was perfect. She would do well to remember that Dimitri was usually right. But, she couldn't make all of her decisions based on Dimitri.

"She will do well." She told her band of Strigoi in a heavy accented voice, "Dimitri has done well."

Dimitri tried to hide the cocky smile. He and the others knew that meant promotion. Rose all ready had a good promotion in her near future seeing as how all the Strigoi in the room had been terrified of her before she turned. Though they did hate her.

Galina practically read his mind with her next words, "If any of you so much as touch her I will kill you myself. No one is to touch Rosemarie. Is that understood?"

There was a mumble of 'yes, ma'ams' throughout the room.

"Good." She said curtly, "Now, get out of my sight!"

Everyone began to move, but then her voice rang through the room, "Everyone except Nathan, Dimitri, and Rosemarie."

Rose and Dimitri stopped still gripping each other's hand as though it were perfectly normal. It wasn't out of wanting it was out of knowing they now could. Rose sneered at Nathan as he gazed at her with hatred and anger.

"Now, we must discuss why I am one servant down." Galina stated not caring one bit for the animosity and tension in the room.

Rose walked forward meeting Galina's gaze with her own. Her eyes weren't smothered with fear as others would be. Hers had a twinge of fear, that wasn't real, and respectfulness (that Dimitri and Rose knew she didn't really have a shred for the woman).

"It was an accident, Galina. I swear it. Like Dimitri tried to explain to you earlier, I had only just awakened. I was hungry and disoriented. I had no way of knowing that it was Inna I was killing."

Dimitri hid a grin. Rose sounded so awed and scared, but her voice still held that emotionless state. He'd never noticed how great an actress Rose could be when she really put her mind to it. And here she was spewing a ridiculous story and he could see Galina eating it up.

"I warned everyone to stay out of the room, Galina." Dimitri chimed in, sounding as though everyone should know better when it comes to Changelings then to bring a human into the room.

Nathan roared to life, "SHE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT SHE WAS DOING! GALINA, SHE WAS IN THE RIGHT MIND! I SWEAR IT! SHE EVEN HAD A MIND TO TELL ME TO GET OUT! SHE THREATENED INNA'S LIFE RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!"

Nathan didn't really care about the fact that Inna was dead. It was simply the principal of the thing. He was supposed to be the favorite. He was supposed to be the one all the Strigoi feared and took orders from. Then here comes Belikov's old mate, a Changeling, (God he hated knowing that) and Belikov, barely out of the Changeling stage himself, were all ready acting superior to him. As though his word meant nothing. As though he were simply dirt beneath their finger nails. He wouldn't stand for it. He'd get revenge for what that stupid Hathaway girl did.

Rose's eyes narrowed, but it was Dimitri who answered.

"Really, Nathan, you of all people should know how Changelings are when they first awaken. You changed me. Remember?" there was a slight disparage in his voice and an obvious insult at his lack of being able to dominate his own Changeling.

"Stop screaming, Nathan. She was just a human." Galina practically spat, though she was too elegant to admit it.

She turned to Rose, whose mask of respect and fear was still in place.

"You're forgiven this one time, Rosemarie. Don't let it happen again." She warned.

"Of course. Thank-you, Galina." She said bowing her head respectfully.

"You and Dimitri may leave." She commanded.

Rose looked at Dimitri who waved her forward. She stalked out of the room.

"We have to get rid of that dumbass before he ruins everything." She snarled, she felt like she was doing a lot of that, but she couldn't help it.

"Of course, Roza, Nathan will be the first." Dimitri replied calmly.

"He'll try to kill me every chance he gets. Fucking idiot."

"We'll kill him, Roza. When the time is right."

Rose felt a sick twisted pleasure in knowing that Nathan would die. She gave Dimitri the dangerous smile she had perfected in only a few hours and she whispered, "Then let's make it hurt."

Dimitri looked at her with a warped sense of pride. This is what he knew would happen. Rose was the perfect ally. She made the perfect Strigoi. She would help him rise to power as easily as she killed Inna then had sex with him as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Rose would do what she needed to rise to a place of power and Dimitri knew she would help him to get it.

Rose looked at Dimitri. She could remember the pathetic emotions she'd felt for him before. Being a Strigoi was so much better. He didn't try to contain her wild side now. And she was satisfied with this. She couldn't love it, just as she couldn't really enjoy their coming together. But, at least she felt like she held all the power. She was stronger then she'd ever been. She'd never let someone make her feel useless and small again.