My Audience About The Successes Of Travi $ Scott - 1059 Words

Topic: Travi$ Scott Organization: Chronological Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the successes of Travi$ Scott I. INTRODUCTION: a. Attention Getter: To introduce, I sing Travi$ Scott’s initial hook of ‘Antidote.’* Subsequently, I address the audience if they recognize the lyrics tentatively spoken. b. Relevance: Travi$ Scott, born Jacques Webster, is a Houston-innate hip-hop artist and producer associated with T.I. s Grand Hustle and Kanye West s GOOD Music. c. Credibility Statement: I have followed Travi$ Scott’s music since 2009, when he collaborated a duo with Chris Holloway called The Graduates and released an EP on MySpace. d. Central Idea: Travi$ Scott started producing beats at the age of 16 and tremendously ascended with his hip-hop music career. e. Initial Preview: Throughout this speech you will grasp knowledge about the inception of Travi$ Scott, his astronomical rise, and his successes today. Transition to 1st main point: To begin, let’s talk about the origin of the upcoming legendary Travi$ Scott. II. BODY: a. Point #1: Travi$ Scott grew up in Houston and was raised by his grandma. While Travi$ was the grandson of a music scholar and the son of a drummer, he had a close relationship with his Uncle Travis. According to Grantland (2014) Travi$ stated, â€Å"...He was [his] favorite uncle. [Even his] favorite relative. [He] always made good decisions, good business decisions.† He is the reason Jacques named himself Travi$. i. He inspired himself by theShow MoreRelatedManaging Information Technology (7th Edition)239873 Words   |  960 Pagescustomers, and the Internet has become a mainstream channel for communications and business transactions. As a result, decision making about information technology resources has also become even more visible as the roles and accountabilities of the IS function have become important not only operationally but also strategically. The overall objectives and targeted audience for this edition remain the same as for the prior sixth edition: to provide comprehensive coverage of IS management practices and

Financial Aid Sap Appeal - 907 Words

Jaclyn Morrison XXX Mark Ave XXXXXXX, OK 00000 Financial Aid Services Buchanan Hall, RM 216 1000 Asp Avenue Norman, OK 73019-4078 RE: Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Fall 2013: Personal Difficulties Plan for Academic Success To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to appeal my current student aid suspension for the Fall 2013 semester. I understand that the release of financial aid to me is of concern of the college due to my GPA being a 1.7 overall and 1.43 for the Spring 2013 semester. However, I have taken the steps to remedy the errors on my academic transcript regarding the repeated classes. The severity of the lower grades on my transcript affected my acceptance into the College of Arts and†¦show more content†¦Barwick-Snell for future advisement. Ms. Thomas kindly reminded me to keep my grades up and we would not have to be in this situation again. My academic record remains far from perfect, and I know this. I’m determined to continue to repair the damage I’ve caused and obtain a degree and start a career, not only for myself, but for my new family as well. I am employed full time at the Canadian County Children’s Justice Center in El Reno, Oklahoma. I work Monday-Frida y, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., as well as some overtime if it is required of me. Working this schedule prevents me from taking classes on campus as well as making necessary trips to campus if I should need to. I have been limited to email and phone correspondence. I would love to be able to attend school full time and not have to be employed full time as well. That however, is not a luxury my husband and I can afford. I have worked hard to remedy any time management issues I have, but there are instances where I do not have enough time to study for the assignments and prepare myself fully for exams. I have taken steps to incorporate more study time into my schedule, such as during lunch breaks as well as before and after work. My husband and I have also discussed what we need to do in order for me to have a more conducive study environment at home. I am confident that the Fall 2013 semester will be highly productive and I will be successful in obtaining grades that increase myShow MoreRelatedA Assessment Of K Class And Personal Research983 Words   |  4 Pagespresentation there are five types of financial aids discussed. Significantly important to me were grants and scholarships, due to the fact you do not repay any money back. As a perfect illustration of a frugal person to pay for their education these formulate an appositive route for me to take. The ramifications of my impoverishment has lea d me to pursue additional grants and scholarships for my schooling and living expenses. Although there are other forms of financial aid, I am disabled, I have found theRead MoreSarbanes - Oxley Act of 2002 and the Effect on the Business Environment2860 Words   |  12 Pagesthe business and legal environment, with titles ranging from auditing, inspection of registered public accounting firms, accounting standards, establishment of an accounting oversight board, auditor partner rotation, corporate responsibility for financial reports, and probation to personal loans to executives, among others. Sarbanes - Oxley was signed in July 2002, by President George W. Bush. The authors of the law are Paul Sarbanes and Michael Oxley. Sarbanes is the longest serving U. S. senatorRead MoreEthnic Tensions Between The Rwanda And The Rwandan Economy3680 Words   |  15 Pagesprevious Tutsi aristocracy, which gave a large number of households access to the lands, and resulted in a tremendous increase in agricultural productions nationwide. In the 1970s, a series of beneficial conditions, such as prudent financial policies, generous external aid, and favorable terms of trade, contributed to the steady growth of Rwanda’s economy. That steady growth was especially seen in coffee production, which saw exports from 1973-1979 increase about three times of that in the 1960s (1966-1972)Read MoreDealing With The Problem As A Helpdesk Manager / Service Centre Manager3225 Words   |  13 Pagesparticular issue – the more calls the helpdesks can resolve without raising to an Internal Service Provider, the better. †¢ completing helpdesks ticket data as totally and as precisely as would be prudent to catch essential level data and the issue or appeal. Tweaked Helpdesk boards may be created for particular sorts of issues to catch extra data that may be helpful in tackling the issue. †¢ managing the progressing operation, organization, backing, and soundness of the Helpdesk and Web Center applicationsRead MoreBusiness issues and the context of HR2767 Words   |  12 Pagesstate and market deficiencies, and are nowadays growing in global significance (Crampton et al, 2001). They are typically a mix of government funding, gifts, grants and earned income. Examples of third sector activities are found in international aid, culture, recreation, social services, education, religion and health. Staff is frequently very mission-focused and gains a lot of job satisfaction by just being committed to the cause. 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Once part of French Indochina, Cambodian gained independence in 1953 when King Sihanouk convinced France that on ly complete independence would undercut the appeal of communism in Cambodia. The Khmer Empire began approximately 800 CE when King Jayavarman II subjugated the small warring kingdoms around Tonle Sap Lake and expanded to cover most of Thailand and Laos. Because of established trade routes, art and culture were strongly influenced by India. Hinduism was the major religionRead MoreManaging Information Technology (7th Edition)239873 Words   |  960 PagesA Make-or-Buy Decision at Baxter Manufacturing Company CASE STUDY III-3 ERP Purchase Decision at Benton Manufacturing Company, Inc. CASE STUDY III-4 The Kuali Financial System: An Open-Source Project CASE STUDY III-5 NIBCO’s â€Å"Big Bang†: An SAP Implementation CASE STUDY III-6 BAT Taiwan: Implementing SAP for a Strategic Transition CASE STUDY III-7 A Troubled Project at Modern Materials, Inc. 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Pardoner’s Tale Free Essays

Dec 1st, 2011 Death. It has many shapes and sizes in books and stories. In Chaucer’s book â€Å"The Pardoners Tale,† it takes the shape of an old man. We will write a custom essay sample on Pardoner’s Tale or any similar topic only for you Order Now He is very old and weary and seems like a completely innocent character. But, in this tale, he is the cause of three deaths. He is the very embodiment of death itself. The first clue to the old man’s identity occurs when he provided the rioters with the directions to find Death. â€Å"†Well sirs,† he said, â€Å"if it be your design To find out death, turn up this crooked way Towards that grove, I left him there today Under a tree, and there you’ll find him waiting†Ã¢â‚¬  182-185 In this quote the old man knows he is telling the rioters where the gold is. He knows it will turn the rioters against themselves. Once they saw he gold they started plotting to kill each other to take the gold for themselves. Another clue hinting to you that he is no ordinary old man happens to be when he is talking to the rioters. â€Å"† Not even death, alas, will take my life; So, like a wrenched prisoner at strife Within himself, I walk alone and wait About the earth, which is My mother’s gate Knock-Knocking with my staff from night to noon And crying, â€Å"â€Å"Mother, open to me soon! †Ã¢â‚¬  142-152 In this segment from the story he is saying that he can’t die. But, it also shows that he wants to die. In line 152 he says â€Å"Mother, open to me soon! † -152, meaning that he wants to be die and be buried in the earth. Calling the earth his mother. The final easy-to-see hint is how he changes subject when talking to the rioters. You can clearly see in lines 147-152 that he wants to die. But, when the rioters accuse him of being death or being a spy for death and act like they will kill him he suddenly changes his aim. â€Å"See how I wither, Flesh and blood and skin! / Alas! When will these bones be laid to rest? † 154-155. Here is an example of him clearly showing that he is ready for death. â€Å"Say where he is or you shall pay for it! † -178 Once the old man hears this he tells the three rioters where death supposable is. But, he knows that he is sending them to the gold where greed will overtake them and they will kill themselves over it. How to cite Pardoner’s Tale, Papers

Information Technology Theory

Question: Write an essay on Information Technology? Answer: Introduction Over the time frame information technology has been considered as the key to attain success in the long run. As the technology improved each and every day, business organizations have to consider it carefully to gain competitive advantages. As mentioned by Bank (2015), business organization is mainly dependent on information technology in every case. At the same time Bonfante (2011) stated that each and every business activity is done with the help of information technology. On the other hand, it also helps in increasing the profitability as well as productivity of business. The analyses of both the live stories are done with the help of actor network theory. The actant and network used among actant and their work is identified. So, assessing the importance of information technology seems the most crucial aspect in todays business context. In line with this Cohen and Painter (2012) commented, information technology play very important role in current business sector. Evaluation of two live stories based on actor network theory Selection of these two live stories will help business organization to explore informational technology requirements in contemporary context to reduce the chance of mistake as well as it will help in increasing the profitability. The selections of live stories are done with the help of technology and artificial intelligence system changes and innovation. On the other hand, the analysis of both live story as well as their actant is done with the help of actor network theory. It was found in a research that, artificial intelligence level is 20 times more than human being. So implementation of robot will increase the level of intelligence of any business. Sometimes, the managers call the other unit manager to know the status and other. Likewise as stated by Kekana (2012), for exchange of information, data technology is needed. For retrieving the information in business process information technology is needed. Apart from this, storage of data also requires information technology. Analysis of two live stories Innovation of new automatic snake like chargers Different actant involved in this live story and analysis of impact actant on each other The main actant in this live story is the new automatic snake shaped car charge. With the help of actor network theory, the identification of actant is done. As stated by (Secondat et al. (2012), with the help of actant the charging process is completed. Identification of actant power involved in the live story With the size and other features of car the power of actant changes. So in this live story the power of actant is asymmetric. Analysis of actant on the basis of geographical factor In this live story the actant is automatic car charger robot or robotic device, so the actant power and other features do not change with the geographical factor (Powner, 2012). Digital actant involvement in live story and their impact on real world As mentioned by Secondat et al. (2012), one of the digital based actant involved in this live story is robotic based car charging. With the increase use of it, chances of sudden accident will increases. Analysis of aspects involved in both the live stories One of the main feature of actant involved in this live story is, they help in reducing the usage of natural resources (Stair and Reynolds, 2012). With the help of this, the cost of other resource will reduce which will help economy of country. Analysis of actant on the basis of actor network theory In case of this story, the actant involved is automatic snake shaped car charging device. The actant of this story is based on robotic and artificial intelligence system. As mentioned by Hofkirchner (2012), information technology assemblage helps in success of each and every business activity. Every business unit is having implementation of information technology tools and techniques. For example, for communicating from other unit, manager sends email and messages (Cohen and Painter, 2012). Involvement of Big data in todays research Different actant involved in this live story and analysis of impact actant on each other According to actor network theory, the actant involved in this live story is big data. As stated by (Cohen and Painter, 2012), with the change and advancement in technology the use of big data is increasing. Identification of actant power involved in the live story The main power of actant involved in this live story is, they help in storing huge amount of data (Secondat et al., 2012. In addition to this, the storage and retrieval of huge amount information can be done with it. Analysis of actant on the basis of geographical factor With the change in organization size the capacity and implementation of actant changes (Kekana, 2012). That is, if organization wants to storage small amount of data they can store with the help of big data. Digital actant involvement in live story and their impact on real world In this live story the digital actant involved is big data. The big data helps in storing, retrieving the information and data (Hofkirchner, 2012). On the other hand, with the change in size and capacity of organization the implementation of big data also changes. Analysis of aspects involved in both the live stories With the help of big data, the organization increases their efficiency as well as productivity. The storage and other features of organization also changes (Yin, 2012). On the other hand, in real world one of the major problems faced by organization is storage, retrieval of information. Analysis of operation of actant on the basis of actor network theory In current technological world, information technology and big data plays and crucial role in research as well as business (Cohen and Painter, 2012). The network is developed among the research work and the big data usage in it. The use of big data helps in completion of research in effective manner. That is, communication, process development, improvement, improving cost efficiency and others. It also helps in reducing the waste of time as well as cost. In addition to this Secondat et al. (2012) stated information technology also helps in improving the competitive advantage and profitability of business. Problem identification in both the live stories on the basis of actor network theory Retrieving data in modern day is important enough as it helps to reduce the time of transferring proper information to other receiver. The limit of updated version of database management system is very high. Stair and Reynolds (2012) commented, transmission, storage and retrieval of information is based on the type of information technology tool used by business. In current scenario, business units are implementing updated version of database system. As mentioned by Unger et al. (2012), database storage system help business to storage their information in systematic manner. With the help of big data information and data are stored, retrieved and transferred easily. On the other hand, the big data also helps in data storage and retrieval regarding the robots. As stated by Unger et al. (2012), the robot is built with the help of big data and other similar technologies. In addition to this Powner (2012) stated, database system helps in storing information in discrete form. In context to this Kallinikos (2010) stated, one of the biggest problem regarding the live story is, with the change in technology the system will get older. The training session regarding the system if not provide to users the acceptance will also be an issue. In context to this Bonfante (2011) stated, in case of second live story, that is, big data, the research can be done easily and the storage of information will also be easy. Apart from this as stated by Kallinikos (2010), with the help of big data, the chance of information lost or misplace will be reduced. It will also help in increasing the performance of research. In todays world, research is the main factor on which technology and other innovations are dependent. In addition to this, it also helps in maintaining customers relation process of business. In context to this Hofkirchner (2012) stated, with the change in technology market, business should also try to change their technology use. Conclusion Thus to conclude, it can be said that information retrieval and assemblage is necessary for business organization to operate effectively. With the help of automatic car charging system the usage of natural resource will be reduced. The reduction is natural resource will increase the effectiveness of economy as well as profitability of country. In case of second live story, the big data in current world is helpful. It helps in reducing the risk related to information and data in research field. Storage of information also plays equal important role while running business. The retrieval of information, transfer of information, communication and other activities shows that business organization now operates more efficiently with the help of technological advancement. These methods help business experts to store data in less time. The study also found that every method is having different style of storing information and retrieving data. As per the compatibility and style of work busines s units adopt the information storage and retrieval method. The two live stories are based on technology and new innovation. References Bank, W. (2015). Little data book on information and communication technology 2015. [Place of publication not identified]: World Bank. Bonfante, L. (2011). Lessons in IT transformation. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley Sons. Cohen, J. and Painter, O. (2012). Fiber-optic integration and efficient detection schemes for optomechanical resonators. Hofkirchner, W. (2012). Emergent Information. Singapore: World Scientific. Kallinikos, J. (2010). Governing through technology. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. Kekana, G. (2012). Factors contributing to successful information technology outsourcing relationships. Lange, R., Bowman, N., Banks, J. and Lange, A. (2015). Grand Theft Auto(mation):. International Journal of Technology and Human Interaction, 11(3), pp.35-50. Powner, D. (2012). Information technology. Secondat, G., Greenfield, P. and Cardey, S. (2012). Natural language processing and human language technology 2013. Stair, R. and Reynolds, G. (2012). Principles of information systems. Unger, H., Meesad, P. and Sirapat Boonkrong, (2012). Recent advances in information and communication technology 2015. Yin, D. (2012). The good, the bad and the content. Atlanta, Ga.: Georgia Institute of Technology.

Macbeth Novel Essays (579 words) - Characters In Macbeth

Macbeth Novel Macbeth was one of William Shakespeare's finest plays. Although many people have read Macbeth, not many people know that King Macbeth of Scotland actually existed and what influenced Shakespeare to write about him. English culture and society as well as the historical figure Macbeth impacted Shakespeare's infamous play. The historical King Macbeth reigned in Scotland for 17 years from 1040-1057. He had a wife named Coruoch and a stepson named Luloch. Although Macbeth did kill Duncan, he was not the gentle king as described in Macbeth. Killing a king was not uncommon at this time as, Macbeth's 7-9 predecessors were killed as well. In 1050, Macbeth went on a religious pilgrimage to Rome to seek absolution for Duncan's death. Unlike Macbeth, Malcolm (rather than Macduff) killed the historical Macbeth. Luloch, known as the "Idiot," reigned for five months after Macbeth's death until Malcom overthrew him. Although there are differences between Shakespeare's Macbeth and the historical figure Macbeth, it is obvious that Shakespeare based his character on this Scottish king. The person who influenced Shakespeare to write Macbeth was King James I of England, who reigned from 1566 to 1625. King James, who was also known as King James 6 of Scotland, succeeded the throne of Queen Elizabeth. James' mother, Mary Queen of Scots, was known as a tragic queen since she killed James father. At age sixteen, rivals kidnapped James and at age 20, James' mother was executed. King James was intellectual, scholarly, and an"insatiable curiost." His ideal of heaven was the Oxford Library. In 1584, while he was only 18 years old, James wrote Essays of Apprentice in Fine Arts of Poetry. He discussed a new translation of the bible, The Authorized Version, which is the most popular bible today. James also wrote in defense of the Divine Right of Kings- that kings were chosen by God, but they must rule well. King James succeeded in ruling an authoritarian government, but he ruled no better than today's democratic governments. He was known as the wisest fool in Christendom. James was also eager for social reform. He wrote A Counterblast to Tobacco, which is much like the anti-smoking campaigns of modern times. When Shakespeare wrote Macbeth, he was obviously aware of James concern with witchcraft. King James wrote the Daemonologie, an account of his experiences with witchcraft. Once a witch tried to melt James' image in wax, and another witch tried to poison him with toad venom. James is skeptical of witchcraft, but does not dismiss it. One significant event during King James' reign was the gunpowder plot. A party of Christian zealots attempted to blow up Parliament. Henry Garnet, a Jesuit, knew of the plot but lied under questioning sine he thought it was justifiable to conceal the truth. James resented this, and many people sympathized with him. The writing of Macbeth was aimed at the head of King James. James was Scottish, like Macbeth, and enjoyed the play. Shakespeare and his actors were known as the "King's Men" and Grooms of the Chamber. They received increased pay and production time. King James found an ancestor in Banquo and believed that man could ally himself with evil, but cannot create it. Macbeth emphasized the savagery of Scotland, which was all too real for James, who knew the throne of Scotland was worth struggling for. It was King James who conceived the term "Great Britain" when he united England and Scotland. Macbeth was deliberately written for King James I, who influenced many factors of the play. While Macbeth was a real king, Shakespeare intertwined the history of Macbeth with events of King James' life to create this masterpiece.

Free Essays on The Empire And The People

â€Å"The Empire and the People† Americans have the need to expand and set their goals high. Oversea expansion wasn’t a new idea that just popped up, but revived again. There have been many oversea probes and interventions by the 1890s and from that, ideology of expansion was widespread. The Monroe Doctrine even glanced southward into and beyond the Caribbean. Captain A. T. Mahan (well-known propagandist for expansion) was influential to American leaders as well as Theodore Roosevelt. He said that the biggest navies would inherit the earth, which was their Manifest Destiny. Now, it’s time for them to set their eyes on inheritance other than within the boundaries of the United States. It’s progress for the Americans to expand and want what they do not have (expand their sight and goals; take more land). Trade is very important to American merchants, and foreign trade was of greater relevance. Theodore Roosevelt talked about expansion and that it wasn’t just for manliness and heroism, but also for the â€Å"trade relations with China.† In 1898, 90% of American products were sold at home. The 10% was sold abroad and amounted to about a billion dollars. Oil was a huge export in the 1880s and the 1890s. Thanks to Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company, which accounted for 90% of American exports of kerosene, controlled 70% of the world market. This made oil the second leading overseas product nest to cotton. If it weren’t for foreign trade and exports, the United States would have a surplus of goods and that would lead to a depression.... Free Essays on The Empire And The People Free Essays on The Empire And The People â€Å"The Empire and the People† Americans have the need to expand and set their goals high. Oversea expansion wasn’t a new idea that just popped up, but revived again. There have been many oversea probes and interventions by the 1890s and from that, ideology of expansion was widespread. The Monroe Doctrine even glanced southward into and beyond the Caribbean. Captain A. T. Mahan (well-known propagandist for expansion) was influential to American leaders as well as Theodore Roosevelt. He said that the biggest navies would inherit the earth, which was their Manifest Destiny. Now, it’s time for them to set their eyes on inheritance other than within the boundaries of the United States. It’s progress for the Americans to expand and want what they do not have (expand their sight and goals; take more land). Trade is very important to American merchants, and foreign trade was of greater relevance. Theodore Roosevelt talked about expansion and that it wasn’t just for manliness and heroism, but also for the â€Å"trade relations with China.† In 1898, 90% of American products were sold at home. The 10% was sold abroad and amounted to about a billion dollars. Oil was a huge export in the 1880s and the 1890s. Thanks to Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company, which accounted for 90% of American exports of kerosene, controlled 70% of the world market. This made oil the second leading overseas product nest to cotton. If it weren’t for foreign trade and exports, the United States would have a surplus of goods and that would lead to a depression....

Public relations process for Deltec Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Public relations process for Deltec - Essay Example The CEO has asked for a range of services from our agency including the advice for a major labor issue faced by the company in the recent past. A detailed analysis was made in this regard to help Delstar to come up with same market share as that of its male athletic equipments. The following paragraphs will discuss the issue in detail to find a way out and help Delstar to survive and succeed in the market. Our agency, therefore, suggest a range of efforts to be performed by Delstar to compete with other firms in the industry and to become a threat for them in the years to come. The company has to conduct a couple of researches in this regard. To start with, our agency advices Delstar to conduct a market research so as to know the pulses of the target group. The first and foremost task in the effort of marketing any product /service is to know whether there are consumers for the desired product/service in the market. So knowing about the market is advisable before thinking about the product and its features. Once the consumers' taste and preferences are well understood, the company can start thinking seriously about the product design and development. Because, our agency believes firmly in 'Prevention is better than Cure' policy in marketing. Market Research is the process of gathering data relating to the consumers, competitor and the market and use of such data for decision making and actions. A market Research is indispensable for Delstar not only because it is going to introduce a novel product to a new target group, but the competition from industry icons such as Reebok, Nike, and Adidas is quite stiff. The target group for the new product, Basketball sneakers, has already been fixed by the company and it is female market. It is co mposed of both basket ball players and those who are fascinated by the style of basket ball sneakers and players. Market Research Method The process by which the data from target group are collected and analyzed is known as Market Research Method. Delstar is advised to conduct a Qualitative Market Research as it involves the study about the market feasibility of a new product, and a focused group. The focused group for the study, as already stated, consists of female basket ball players and female teenagers and women who are fascinated by the style of sneakers and basket ball players. Data are collected from the focused group by means of personal interview with them. In the basket ball players segment, female players are approached with an Interview Schedule to gather data. In the second group, a sample survey was conducted among teenagers and women who like basket ball sneakers for daily use for easy and comfortable walking. The players were asked mainly about their views on the sneakers presently available and their expectations about the one which is like to be launched in the market. An interview schedule is to be prepared with logically arranged questions on consumers' needs and aspirations about the product. In addition to the interview with focused group, a one-on-one in-depth interview with a renowned basketball trainer is also prescribed for the company since it is likely to generate more authentic and reliable information. The survey among the non-players female group is conducted using Random Sampling Method wherein the opinion of respondents are more likely to be

Drivers of automobiles using cellular phones Essay

Drivers of automobiles using cellular phones - Essay Example Use of cell phone while driving is no less dangerous than drunk driving, and thus, should be condemned equally. People tend to deny that using cell phones while driving is dangerous and see it as a debatable topic. Cell phone use while driving is dangerous and the biggest evidence of this is the acknowledgement of dangers associated with this practice by the people who indulge in it. According to Gallup and Gallup (2003, p. 432), two-thirds of people that make use of cell phone as they drive disregard the idea that this practice is safe. There has been considerable law-making against eating while driving and sitting a child on the lap of the driver while he/she drives. Cell phone use while driving is much more dangerous than any of these cases because this practice distracts the driver mentally and makes him/her mentally absent while he/she is physically on the driving seat. The risk of using cell phone while driving increases considerably with age. As people age, they decline in the ir agility of reflexes and are not able to make best use of their capabilities. Ranney and Pulling (1990) have noted declines in the processing of information with increase of age. Arenberg (1982) determined increased difficulty in problem solving with increased age while Temple (1989) found that increase in age causes short term memory. All of these factors make the driving increasingly riskier. Findings of these researchers suggest that old people are more susceptible to accidents when they use cell phones while driving as compared to the young people. A lot of research has been conducted in the past to suggest that use of cell phone while driving is dangerous. Use of cell phones instantly slows down the reaction time of drivers and hence, makes them more susceptible to be caught in accidents. Young people hearing calls along with driving are no better than sleepy septuagenarians. David Strayer, the Professor of Psychology in the University of Utah conducted a comprehensive resear ch to analyze the effects of cell phone use on the capability of drivers. The team of researchers determined in 2001 that even the hands-free calls play an important role in distracting the drivers. A reason for this was found in 2003 as a result of the continued research. They found that although the cell phone using drivers look, yet they are not able to see because their mind is focusing on the conversation. If you put a 20-year-old driver behind the wheel with a cell phone, their reaction times are the same as a 70-year-old driver who is not using a cell phone †¦ It’s like instantly aging a large number of drivers †¦ Once drivers on cell phones hit the brakes, it takes them longer to get back into the normal flow of traffic †¦ The net result is they are impeding the overall flow of traffic. (Strayer cited in Britt, 2005). Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign second the results derived by Strayer and his team. Arthur Kramer, the re search leader said that the cell phone using drivers of any age are not able to pick out significant changes in the surroundings, and their reaction time is also longer accordingly (Britt, 2005). Number of deaths in US per year that can be attributed to the use of cell phones while driving is 26000 while 330000 injuries happen because of accidents that

Explain how you will conduct an effective reference check Essay

Explain how you will conduct an effective reference check - Essay Example shall try to first build my own opinion about the employee by reviewing his/her profiles, activities, memberships, and social circles on social media and social networking websites and then get the opinion of the referee on these subjects. I shall subsequently compare my own opinion to that of the referee to find out if his/her opinion supports or contradicts mine. I may or may not need to reach out to more referees depending upon the outcome of the comparison. I shall also carry out research at my own level about the referee from whom I am getting opinion about the employee. Using my resources and social media, I shall try to assess whether the referee actually serves in the position and location as suggested by the employee or not. I shall not only share with the referee my name, position, place, and organization, but also the roles and responsibilities attached to the position I am considering the candidate for while seeking referee’s opinion about the

Relation Between Language Power And Dehumanization English Literature Essay

Relation Between Language Power And Dehumanization English Literature Essay There are implications of limited health care, as Winstons varicose ulcer on his right ankle remains treated throughout. Meanwhile Winston talks of the cheap quality of the vicory cigarettes, the only cigarettes available. The fact that the only attainable alcohol,is gin, and the inclusion of food rationing, also resembles an air of restriction, through a dehumanizing lack of variety. Language plays a vital part in this process of repression, as it is language, through propaganda that enforces it. For example, the telescreen uses manipulative language, to subliminally brainwash people during the two minutes hate. Though the false representation of Goldstein and his rapid polysyllabic speech, as he delivers his usual venemous attack upon the doctrines of the Party an attack so exaggerated and perverse that a child should have been able to see through it, and yet just plausible enough to fill one with an alarmed feeling. (ch1) The party uses hateful language to manipulate them into a frenzy, to a point where they advocate against Goldsteins promotion of feedom of speech, freedom of the Press, freedom of assembly, freedom of thought. To enforce this manipulative repression, further restriction shows that it is illegal for the telescreen to be switched off, even inner party members are only allowed to switch it off for half an hour at a time. Therefore manipulative l anguage empowers Big Brother, so that he can dehumanize the non-proles of Oceana. The telescreen is also used as a tool for repression through recording peoples spoken language and monitoring their lingual thoughts. Winston notes, It was terribly dangerous to let your thoughts wander when you were in any public place or within range of a telescreen through the fear of commiting face crime, if an unfavourable expression appeared on a persons face, whilst in front of the telescreen. This is an example of how language itself is repressed, for the benefit of the party. With no freedom of expression, and a sense of paranoia surrounding the use of language, Big Brother is not under threat. The giant big brother is watching you, posters, plastered throughout Oceana, enforce this empowerment through paranoia, that the government holds over Oceana. The monitoring of language, propaganda posters, and telescreens prevents revolution, and therefore language becomes repressed as a result. Along with the fear of commiting crimes through spoken language, there is fear surrounding freedom of language in thought. The thought police, remain a terrifying organization for the residents of Oceana, with the danger of torture and imprisonment if their language, through their thoughts, consist of an anti-party stance. The fact that they watched everybody all the time, installs a sense of paranoia, that makes people mentally restrict their freedom of language, and vocabulary, in order to avoid being targeted by the thought police. To help society keep repressed, and to discourage against the free use of language, there is the invention of Newspeak. As the official language of Oceana, it concentrates upon a narrowing vocabulary, eliminating words concerning freedom and rebellion. As Syme muses Dont you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought?, this directly relates to power. The minimising of language vocabulary, maximises power, with the hope that if one cannot describe freedom, and rebelling against the party, then they prevent themselves from wanting it, or thinking about it. As part of Newspeak, we are introduced to the notion of Doublethink, a process of holding two contradictory beliefs in ones mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them. (ch3) This method is a manipulative way of confusing a persons perception of concepts such as freedom. The party uses this to their advantage as part of their slogan, freedom is slavery. This subliminal brainwashing through contradictive similes confuses the inhabitants into thinking that the opposites are true. The method of doublethink, is used not only in the partys slogans but is used as a tool to boost ignorance, and as a result weakens the chance of big brother getting overthrown. For example, through reporting false events such as how Oceana had always been war with Eastasia, boosts patriotism, whilst forcing inhabitants into ignorance. Through the restriction of truth in language, and spreading of false information, Oceanas inhabitants are dehumanized. This solidifies the parties power as noone challenges these false reports, as they believe that ignorance is truth. Although Winston is part of the party himself, he is still repressed by them. The ironic ministry of truth where he works, is representative of a tolertarian power gone mad. Again, language through lies is used to test and push the ignorance of the people. Winston notes how he has to destroy parts of the past, to the point that history is changed in a continuous process of alteration(ch4). Meanwhile the simple fiddling of statistics, such as the covering up of chocolate ration decreasing from 30 grams to 20 grams, shows how powerful the manipulative newspeak and doublethink is. Winston notes there were demonstrations to thank Big Brother for raising the chocolate ration to twenty grams a week. only yesterday, he reflected, it had been announced that the ration was to be reduced to twenty grams a week. Was it possible that they could swallow that, after only twenty-four hours? Yes, they swallowed it. The ministry of plenty, alas, controlled shortages. Even though people are getting less food and supplies than ever, Winston becomes part of the lingual manipulation process which makes them thank big brother for what they have. As general perceptions are warped by the party through language, so is the act of love. Initial paranoia, which evolves into anger and an urge to seek out anyone who is against the party, is inflicted upon the children of Oceana from an early age. Through this they are dehumanized, as they become incapable of loving their parents and are more than willing, to turn against them, as junior spies. An example of this is when we see Parsons turned in to the party by his children. Through the language, of the sternly named anti sex league, the party uses its power to enforce sexual repression and channel it into anger against the parties enemies. Through anti-sex language propaganda, the party gains power, yet dehumanizes humans, preventing them from a natural activity. This repression of sex even warps the resistant mind of Winston, as he says to Julia, the more men she has been with, the more that he loves her. Here, even though rebellion against the party, his idea of love is ruined. Literature itself is restricted, in fear that its language will promote revolutionary thoughts. One man leaves the word God, in a translation of a Rudyard Kipling poem, and is put in prison as a result, which shows the tension of how restriction of language is essential to power. Along with food, sex, alcohol and cigarettes, literature is seen as a threat. The fact that Winston wakes up from a dream with Shakeapeare on his lips, emphasises this restriction, as he expresses his yearning for culture and literature. The restriction of books is noted in 1984, as we see that no one is reading. Syme note that by 2050, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Byron theyll exist only in Newspeak versions, not merely changed into something different, but actually changed into something contradictory of what they used to be, establishing the parties aim to destroy and manipulate language in literature for their own needs. The fact that Winston feels extremely guilty, when he writes in a diary (writing is not permitted), and even worse, writing words against the party, which makes him contemplate suicide, shows the power the party has over him. This shows how the restriction of language, through taking away the freedom to write, is dehumanizing, as it prevents the expression of feeling. Conc The only people free from the party are the proles. They are the only residents who have free expression of words, however, they are also dehumanized themselves, through their lack of civilisation and power. Part 2 Whilst language is changed due to a totalitarian element concerning dehumanization in 1984, the language in Naipuls one out of many, represents the struggle between power and dehumanization, under the context of class and social hierarchy. I am going to explore these links through observing the dialogue and attitude of the characters in the text, alongside the tone of the narrator. There is a notable link that language has with power, when it comes to social hierarchy. Someone could become dehumanized, the further they move down the social ladder. The language exchanged between the narrator, Santosh, and the characters in the extract is indicative of this. Santosh speaks of how he relied on the importance of his employer, Sahib, for his own respect and security, and their relationship begins at a seemingly equal level. Sahib warns Santosh that Washington is not Bombay, and that he should be aware of the exchange rate between rupee and dollar. However as soon as they arrive in Washington, the social gap between both the characters widens. Sahib first speaks down to Santosh, saying he is only a domestic, and in front of the officials, he pretends to be horrified at Santoshs natural behaviour on the plane, I cannot understand why your behaviour has already gone so much out of character. Through talking down to Santosh, Sahib commands social power and begins to deh umanize him in front of other people, in order to command respect. When it comes to money, Sahib manipulates Santosh through choosing his words carefully in offering him a raise. The ignorant Sahib, thinks that the raise, and fortnights pay in advance, is more than generous, and like the inhabitants of Oceana over the chocolate ration, is manipulated into being thankful for this. When santosh realises the money isnt enough to live off, he wants to leave. However Sahib uses strong language to threaten him if I send you back now, you will have to work for six or seven years without salary to pay me back. In this way Sahib gains power. Santosh observes that his freedom has been taken away, I understood. I was a prisoner, as he realises the context of the verbal threat dehumanizes him, and makes him almost a slave to Sahib. Of course, Sahib feels himself, dehumanized in the extract, by the Americans. When Santosh has to sleep in a cupboard, he feels that he shouldnt be treated that way and takes it personally, assuming that the government had assigned Santosh this room, just because they are Indian. A paranoid Sahib claims some enemy in the government has done this to me, they think that we all live in cupboards in Bombay. Sahib also feels dehumanized when one of his guests comments how he brought back an ancient stone head from India, tipping the tour guide to keep quiet. Offensively, the guest says, if I had a bottle of whisky he would have pulled down the whole temple for me. Santosh finds comfort in language through talking as says he told stories and smoked, with his friends in Bombay. The tailor warns Santosh that Americans wont wont sit and talk with you in the evenings, which is true, as he becomes a recluse when he moves to Washington, staying in the apartment and watching t.v. This removal of social interaction through language dehumanizes Santosh as racial and foreign language barriers encourage this. To further this isolation, Santosh is talked down to by a number of people, from the flight attendant who spoke roughly to him, to the woman in the cafà © cant you read? We dont serve hippies or bare feet here. The Hubshi girl teaches Santosh English me black and beautiful then calls policeman a pig, using Santoshs naivity to make an impression on him through power of language. Powering him to have prejudices against the police and dehumanize them. Interestingly we see that the power of language and manipulates Santosh into becoming vain. At the beginning, despite being look own upon by the air hostess, he didnt care what the girl said or did, after a series of incidents where people use language to make him inferior, he begins to dress better and became choked with shame at his old ways. The snobbish language made him now wear shoes. The television, in a vaguely similar fashion to the telescreens in 1984, has used language and imagery to manipulate him into how to behave in society. He notes I became obsessed with my appearance and began comparing himself with actors on t.v. Interestingly, during Santoshs predicament, concerning how to get his green card, he commits the most dehumnizing act in the whole extract. Through the green card he gains power, however to gain this power he has to use language to falsely tell the Hubshi girl that he likes her and wants to marry her. This is not only dehumanizing for him, having to marry and live with a woman he doesnt like, but dehumanizing for her, as he does not love her. But then talks down I dont see how you will manage in Washington foreign exchange santosh! Foreign exchange! Boss again speaks down to him when he says in front of the officials Threat- you dont only represent your country, you represent me Officials-does he always travel with his condiments- not talking to him directly- conveys an air of dehumanization. Santosh looks down on the hubshi at first- language is snobby, and dehumaizes them in our country we frankly do not care for the hubshi but then uses language to feel emphathy for them even in the mornings the men were drunk Santosh they can just look at me and see I am dirt Sahibs guests are offensive if I had a bottle of whisky he would have pulled down the whole temple for me- dehumanizing Indians. they are malicious people. Power of hubshi- burning city down Priyas attitude if you cant beat them, join them. I joined them. They are still beating me When moves in with priya I felt I was earning my freedom Power of green card- immigrants they were always about to get green cards, or they had been cheated out of green cards Priya and santhosh equal the American way, man to man I was good looking; I had lost my looks. I was a free man; I had lost my freedom Power of haggling- language- I couldnt stay on for less than a hundred and twenty five- santosh now has power. I have made some corrections in the second bit, but gave up because there are so many little ones, such as grammar and spelling. Also overuse of the name Santosh, the word dehumanizing and a tendency to repeat. However it really just needs tidying up a bit and making a bit more coherent as in the first half. If you wrote the first half, completely, yourself, I would say it was one of the best pieces you have written. I asked if you had written it, because I was shocked that there were hardly any mistakes in it and it appeared balanced and coherent.

Sigmund Freud Essay -- Freud Psychologist Biography Essays

Sigmund Freud Sigmund Freud was the first major social scientist to propose a unified theory to understand and explain human behavior. No theory that has followed has been more complete, more complex, or more controversial. Some psychologists treat Freud's writings as a sacred text - if Freud said it, it must be true. On the other hand, many have accused Freud of being unscientific, proposing theories that are too complex ever to be proved true or false. He revolutionized ideas on how the human mind works and the theory that unconscious motives control much behavior. â€Å"He applied himself to a new field of study†¦and struggled with an environment whose rejection of his work endangered his livelihood and that of his family† (Freud 3). His work greatly improved the fields of psychiatry and psychology and helped millions of mentally ill patients. Sigmund Freud was born on May 6, 1856, in Freiberg, Moravia, a region now in the Czech Republic. His father was a wool merchant and was forty when he had Sigmund, the oldest of eight children (Gay 78). When Freud turned four, his family moved to Vienna, Austria. After graduating from the Spree Gymnasium, Freud was inspired by an essay written by Goethe on nature, to make medicine as his career. After graduating from the medical school of the University of Vienna in 1881, Freud decided to specialize in neurology, the study and treatment of disorders of the nervous system (Gay 79). In 1885, Freud went to Paris to study under Jean Martin Charcot, a famous neurologist. Charcot was working with patients who suffered from a mental illness called hysteria. Some of these people appeared to be blind or paralyzed, but they actually had no physical defects. Charcot found that their physical symptoms could be relieved through hypnosis (Garcia 209). Freud returned to Vienna in 1886 and began to work extensively with hysterical patients. While discussing the case history of one patient, Freud said, â€Å"In the study of hysteria, local diagnosis and electrical reactions do not come into picture, while an exhaustive account of mental processes, of the kind we were accustomed to having from imaginative writers, enables me, by the application of a few psychological formulas, to obtain a kind of insight into the origin of a hysteria† (Freud 15). He gradually formed ideas about the origin and treatment of mental illness. He used t... ...ia 119).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since the 1970's, many scholars and mental health professionals have questioned some of Freud's theories. Feminists attacked Freud because he seemed to believe that in some respects women were inferior to men. For example, he thought that women had weaker superegos than men and were driven by envy. He also thought that women had penis envy and were jealous of men. Other people challenged the theory that patients' memories of early sexual abuse reflected fantasies rather than actual experiences.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As a result of such criticism, most scholars and psychoanalysts now take a more balanced approach to Freud's theories. They use the ideas and techniques from Freud that they find most useful without strictly following all of his teachings. No one, however, disputes Freud's enormous influence. Works Cited Clark, David. What Freud Really Said. Scholden, N.Y: 1995. Freud, Sigmund. The Origin & Development of Psychoanalysis. Henry Regnay, Indiana Press, N.Y: 1965. Garcia, Emanuel. Understanding Freud. NYU Press, N.Y: 1992. Gay, Peter. Freud, A Life Of Our Time. W.W. Norton, N.Y: 1988. Macionis, John. Society: The Basics. Prentice-Hall, N.J: 2000.

Night World : Soulmate Chapter 2

Hannah found herself on her feet. Her awareness was fragmented and understanding came to her in pieces because she simply couldn't take in the whole situation at once. It was too bizarre. At first she simply thought of a bomb. The explosion was that loud. Then she realized that something had come in the window, that it had come flying through the glass. And that it was in the room with her now, crouching among the broken shards of windowpane. Even then, she couldn't identify it. It was too incongruous; her mind refused to recognize the shape immediately. Something pretty big-something dark, it offered. A body like a dog's but set higher, with longer legs. Yellow eyes. And then, as if the right lens had suddenly clicked in front of her eyes, she saw it clearly. A wolf. There was a big black wolf in the room with her. It was a gorgeous animal, rangy and muscular, with ebony-colored fur and a white streak on its throat like a bolt of lightning. It was looking at her fixedly, with an almost human expression. Escaped fromYellowstone , Hannah thought dazedly. The naturalists were reintroducing wolves to the park, weren't they? It couldn't be wild; Ryan Harden's great-grandpa had bragged for years about killing the last wolf in Amador county when he was a boy. Anyway, she told herself, wolves don't attack people. They never attack people. A single wolf would never attack a full-grown teenager. And all the time her conscious mind was thinking this, something deeper was making her move. It made her back up slowly, never taking her eyes off the wolf, until she felt the bookcase behind her. There's something you need to get, a voice in her mind was whispering to her. It wasn't like the voice of another person, but it wasn't exactly like her own mental voice, either. It was a voice like a dark cool wind: competent and rather bleak. Something you saw on a shelf earlier, it said. In an impossibly graceful motion, from eight feet away, the wolf leaped. There was no time to be scared. Hannah saw a bushy, flowing black arc coming at her and then she was slammed into the bookcase. For a while after that, everything was simply chaos. Books and knick-knacks were falling around her. She was trying to get her balance, trying to push the heaviness of a furry body away from her. The wolf was falling back, then jumping again as she twisted sideways to get away. And the strangest thing was that she actually was getting away. Or at least evading the worst of the wolf's lunges, which seemed to be aimed at knocking her to the floor. Her body was moving as if this were, somehow instinctive to her, as if she knew how to do this. But I don't know this. I never fight†¦ and I've certainly never played dodge ball with a wolf before†¦. As she thought it, her movements slowed. She didn't feel sure and instinctive any longer. She felt confused. And the wolf seemed to know it. Its eyes glowed eerily yellow in the light of a lamp that was lying on its side. They were such strange eyes, more intense and more savage than any animal's she'd ever seen. She saw it draw its legs beneath it. Move-now, the mysterious new part of her mind snapped. Hannah moved. The wolf hit the bookcase with incredible force, and then the bookcase itself was falling. Hannah flung herself sideways in time to avoid being crushed-but the case fell with an unholy noise directly in front of the door. Trapped, the dark cool voice in Hannah's mind noted analytically. No exit anymore, except the window. â€Å"Hannah? Hannah?† It was Paul's voice just outside the room. The door flew open-all of four inches. It jammed against the fallen bookcase. â€Å"God-what's going on in there? Hannah? Hannah!† He sounded panicked now, banging the door uselessly against the blockage. Don't think about him, the new part of Hannah's mind said sharply, but Hannah couldn't help it. He sounded so desperate. She opened her mouth to shout back to him, her concentration broken. And the wolf lunged. This time Hannah didn't move fast enough. A terrible weight smashed into her and she was falling, flying. She landed hard, her head smacking into the floorboards. It hurt. Even as she felt it, everything grayed out. Her vision went sparkling, her mind soared away from the pain, and a strange thought flickered through her head. I'm dead now. It's over again. Oh, Isis, Goddess of Life, guide me to the other world†¦. â€Å"Hannah! Hannah! What's going on in there?† Paul's frantic voice came to her dimly. Hannah's vision cleared and the bizarre thoughts vanished. She wasn't soaring in sparkling emptiness and she wasn't dead. She was lying on the floor with a book's sharp corner in the small of her back and a wolf on her chest. Even in the midst of her terror, she felt a strange appalled fascination. She had never seen a wild animal this close. She could see the white-tipped guard hairs standing erect on its face and neck; she could see saliva glistening on its lolling red tongue. She could smell its breath-humid and hot, vaguely dog-like but much wilder. And she couldn't move, she realized. The wolf was as long as she was tall, and it weighed more than she did. Pinned underneath it, she was utterly helpless. All she could do was lie there shivering as the narrow, almost delicate muzzle got closer and closer to her face. Her eyes closed involuntarily as she felt the cold wetness of its nose on her cheek. It wasn't an affectionate gesture. The wolf was nudging at strands of her hair that had fallen across her face. Using its muzzle like a hand to push the hair away. Oh, God, please make it stop, Hannah thought. But she was the only one who could stop this-and she didn't know how. Now the cold nose was moving across her cheekbone. Its sniffing was loud in her ear. The wolf seemed to be smelling her, tasting her, and looking at her all at once. No. Not looking at me. Looking at my birthmark. It was another one of those ridiculous, impossible thoughts-and it snapped into place like the last piece in a puzzle deep inside her. Irrational as it was, Hannah felt absolutely certain it was true. And it set off the cool wind voice in her mind again. Reach out, the voice whispered, quiet and businesslike. Feel around you. The weapon has to be there somewhere. You saw it on the bookcase. Find it. The wolf stopped its explorations, seeming satisfied. It lifted its head†¦ and laughed. Really laughed. It was the eeriest and most frightening thing Hannah had ever seen. The big mouth opened, panting, showing teeth, and the yellow eyes blazed with hot bestial triumph. Hurry, hurry. Hannah's eyes were helplessly fixed on the sharp white teeth ten inches away from her face, but her hand was creeping out, feeling along the smooth pine floorboards around her. Her fingers glided over books, over the feathery texture of a fern-and then over something square and cold and faced with glass. The wolf didn't seem to notice. Its lips were pulling back farther and farther. Not laughing anymore. Hannah could see its short front teeth and its long curving canines. She could see its forehead wrinkling. And she could feel its body vibrate in a low and vicious growl. The sound of absolute savagery. The cool wind voice had taken over Hannah's mind completely. It was telling her what would happen next. The wolf would sink his teeth into her throat and then shake her, tearing skin and ripping muscles away. Her blood would spray like a fountain. It would fill her severed windpipe and her lungs and her mouth. She would die gasping and choking, maybe drowning before she bled out. Except. . . that she had silver in her hand. A silver picture frame. Kill it, the cool voice whispered. You've got the right weapon. Hit it dead in the eye with a corner. Drive silver into its brain. Hannah's ordinary mind didn't even try to figure out how a picture frame could possibly be the right weapon. It didn't object, either. But faint and faraway, there came another voice in her head. Like the cool wind voice, it wasn't hers, but it wasn't someone else's, either. It was a clear crystal voice that seemed to sparkle in jeweled colors as it spoke. You are not a killer. You don't kill. You have never killed, no matter what happened to you. You do not kill. I don't kill, Hannah thought slowly, in agreement. Then you're going to die, the cool wind voice said brutally, much louder than the crystal voice. Because this animal won't stop until either it's dead or you are. There's no other way to deal with these creatures. Then it happened. The wolf's mouth opened. In a lightning-fast move, it darted for her throat. Hannah didn't think. She brought the picture frame up †¦ and slammed it into the side of the wolf's head. Not into the eye. Into the ear. She felt the impact-hard metal against sensitive flesh. The wolf gave a yelping squeal and staggered sideways, shaking its head and hitting at its face with a forepaw. Its weight was off her for an instant, and an instant was all Hannah needed. Her body moved without her conscious direction, sliding out from under the wolf, twisting and jumping to her feet. She kept her grasp on the picture frame. Now. Look around! The bookcase-no, you can't move it. The window! Go for the window. But the wolf had stopped shaking its head. Even as Hannah started across the room, it turned and saw her. In one flowing, bushy leap it put itself between her and the window. Then it stood looking at her, every hair on its body bristling. Its teeth were bared, its ears upright, and its eyes glared with pure hatred and menace. It's going to spring, Hannah realized. I am not a killer. I can't kill. You don't have any choice- The wolf sprang. But it never reached her. Something else came soaring through the window and knocked it off course. This time, Hannah's eyes and brain identified the creature at once. Another wolf. My God, what is going on? The new animal was gray-brown, smaller than the black wolf and not as striking. Its legs were amazingly delicate, twined with veins and sinews like a racehorse's. A female, something faraway in Hannah's mind said with dreamlike certainty. Both wolves had recovered their balance now. They were on their feet, bristling. The room smelled like a zoo. And now I'm really going to die, Hannah thought. I'm going to be torn to pieces by two wolves. She was still clutching the picture frame, but she knew there was no chance of fighting them both off at once. They were going to rip her to bits, quarreling over who got more of her. Her heart was pounding so hard that it shook her body, and her ears were ringing. The female wolf was staring at her with eyes more amber than yellow, and Hannah stared back, mesmerized, waiting for it to make its move. The wolf held the gaze for another moment, as if studying Hannah's face-in particular the left side of her face. Her cheek. Then she turned her back to Hannah and faced the black wolf. And snarled. Protecting me, Hannah thought, stunned. It was unbelievable-but she was beyond disbelief at this point. She had stepped out of her ordinary life and into a fairy tale full of almost-human wolves. The entire world had gone crazy and all she could do was try to deal with each moment as it came. They're going to fight, the cool wind voice in her mind told her. As soon as they're into it, run for the window. At that moment everything erupted into bedlam. The gray wolf had launched herself at the black. The room echoed with the sound of snarling-and of teeth clicking together as both wolves snapped again and again. Hannah couldn't make out what was going on in the fight. It was just a blurred chaos as the wolves circled and darted and leaped and ducked. But it was by far the most terrifying thing she had ever witnessed. Like the worst dog fight imaginable, like the feeding frenzy of sharks. Both animals seemed to have gone berserk. Suddenly there was a yelp of pain. Blood welled up on the gray female's flank. She's too small, Hannah thought. Too light. She doesn't have a chance. Help her, the crystal voice whispered. It was an insane suggestion. Hannah couldn't even imagine trying to get in the middle of that snarling whirlwind. But somehow she found herself moving anyway. Placing herself behind the gray wolf. It didn't matter that she didn't believe she was doing it, or that she had no idea how to team up with a wolf in fighting another wolf. She was there and she was holding her silver picture frame high. The black wolf pulled away from the fight to stare at her. And there they stood, all three of them panting, Hannah with fear and the wolves with exertion. They were frozen like a tableau in the middle of the wrecked office, all looking at each other tensely. The black wolf on one side, his eyes shining with single-minded menace. The gray wolf on the other, blood matting her coat, bits of fur floating away from her. And Hannah right behind her, holding up the picture frame in a shaking hand. Hannah's ears were filled with the deep reverberating sound of growling. And then a deafening report that cut through the room like a knife. A gunshot. The black wolf yelped and staggered. Hannah's senses had been focused on what was going on inside the room for so long that it was a shock to realize there was anything, outside it. She was dimly aware that Paul's yells had stopped some time ago, but she hadn't stopped to consider what that meant. Now, with adrenaline washing over her, she heard his voice. â€Å"Hannah! Get out of the way!† The shout was tense, edged with fear and anger- and determination. It came from the opposite side of the room, from the darkness outside the window. Paul was there at the broken window with a gun. His face was pale and his hand was shaking. He was aiming in the general direction of the wolves. If he fired again he might hit either of them. â€Å"Get into a corner!† The gun bobbed nervously. Hannah heard herself say, â€Å"Don't shoot!† Her voice came out hoarse and unused-sounding. She moved to get in between the gun and the wolves. â€Å"Don't shoot,† she said again. â€Å"Don't hit the gray one.† â€Å"Hit the gray one?† Paul's voice rose in something like hysterical laughter. â€Å"I don't even know if I can hit the wall! This is the first time I've ever shot a gun. So just-just try to get out of the way!† â€Å"No!† Hannah moved toward him, holding out her hand. â€Å"I can shoot. Just give it to me-â€Å" â€Å"Just move out of the way-â€Å" The gun went off. For an instant Hannah couldn't see where the bullet had gone and she wondered wildly if she had been shot. Then she saw that the black wolf was lurching backward. Blood dripped from its neck. Steel won't kill it, the wind voice hissed. You're only making it more angry. . But the black wolf was swinging its head to look with blazing eyes from Hannah with her picture frame to Paul with his gun, to the gray wolf with her teeth. The gray wolf snarled just then and Hannah had never seen an animal look closer to being smug. â€Å"One more shot†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Paul breathed. â€Å"While it's cornered†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Ears flat, the black wolf turned toward the only other window in the room. It launched into a vaulting leap straight toward the unbroken glass. There was a shattering crash as it went through. Glass fragments flew everywhere, tinkling. Hannah stared dizzily at the curtains swirling first outside, then inside the room, and then her head snapped around to look at the gray wolf. Amber eyes met hers directly. It was such a human stare†¦ and definitely the look of an equal. Almost the look of a friend. Then the gray wolf twisted and loped for the newly broken window. Two steps and a leap-she was through. From somewhere outside there came a long drawn-out howl of anger and defiance. It was fading, as if the wolf was moving away. Then silence. Hannah shut her eyes. Her knees literally felt as if they wanted to buckle. But she made herself move to the window, glass grating under her boots as she stared into the night. The moon was bright, one day past full. She thought she could just see a dark shape loping toward the open prairie, but it might have been her imagination. She let out her breath and sagged against the window. The silver picture frame fell to the floor. â€Å"Are you hurt? Are you okay?† Paul was climbing through the other window. He tripped on a waste-basket getting across the room, then he was beside her, grabbing for her shoulders, trying to look her over. â€Å"I think I'm all right.† She was numb, was what she was. She felt dazed and fragmented. He blinked at her. â€Å"Um .. . you have some particular fondness for gray wolves or something?† Hannah shook her head. How could she ever explain? They stared at each other for a moment, and then, simultaneously, they both sank to the floor, squatting among the shards of glass, breathing hard. Paul's face was white, his red hair disheveled, his eyes large and stunned. He ran a shaky hand over his forehead, then put the gun down and patted it. He twisted his neck to stare at the wreck of his office, the overturned bookcase, the scattered books and knickknacks, the two broken windows, the glass fragments, the bullet hole, the flecks of blood, and the tufts of wolf hair that still drifted across the pine floorboards. Hannah said faintly, â€Å"So who was at the door?† Paul blinked twice. â€Å"Nobody. Nobody was at the door.† He added almost dreamily, â€Å"I wonder if wolves can ring doorbells?† â€Å"What?† Paul turned to look straight at her. â€Å"Has it ever occurred to you,† he blurted, â€Å"that you may not be paranoid after all? I mean, that something weird and uncanny really is out to get you?† â€Å"Very funny,† Hannah whispered â€Å"I mean-† Paul gestured around the room, half-laughing. He looked punch-drunk. â€Å"I mean, you said something was going to happen-and something did.† He stopped laughing and looked at her with wondering speculation. â€Å"You really did know, didn't you?† Hannah glared at the man who was supposed to guide her back to sanity. â€Å"Are you crazy?† Paul blinked. He looked shocked and embarrassed, then he glanced away and shook his head. â€Å"God, I don't know. Sorry; that wasn't very professional, was it? But†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He stared out the window. â€Å"Well, for a moment it just seemed possible that you've got some kind of secret locked up there in your brain. Something†¦ extraordinary.† Hannah said nothing. She was trying to forget about too many things at once: the new part of her that whispered strategies, the wolves with human eyes, the silver picture frame. She had no idea what all these things added up to, and she didn't want to know. She wanted to force them away from her and go back to the safe ordinary world ofSacajaweaHigh School . Paul cleared his throat, still looking out the window. His voice was uncertain and almost apologetic. â€Å"It can't be true, of course. There's got to be a rational explanation. But-well, if it were true, it occurs to me that somebody had better unlock that secret. Before something worse happens.†

Shadow Kiss Chapter 24

Twenty-four THE WHOLE WORLD WAS still. At this time of night, there were no birds or anything, but it seemed quieter than usual. Even the wind had fallen silent. Mason looked at me pleadingly. The nausea and prickling increased. Then, I knew. â€Å"Dimitri,† I said urgently, â€Å"there are Strig – â€Å" Too late. Dimitri and I saw him at the same time, but Dimitri was closer. Pale face. Red eyes. The Strigoi swooped toward us, and I could almost imagine he was flying, just like vampire legends used to say. But Dimitri was just as fast and nearly as strong. He had his stake – a real one, not a practice one – in his hand and met the Strigoi's attack. I think the Strigoi had hoped for the element of surprise. They grappled, and for a moment they seemed suspended in time, neither gaining ground on the other. Then Dimitri's hand snaked out, plunging the stake into the Strigoi's heart. The red eyes widened in surprise, and the Strigoi's body crumpled to the ground. Dimitri turned to me to make sure I was all right, and a thousand silent messages passed between us. He turned away and scanned the woods, peering into the darkness. My nausea had increased. I didn't understand why, but somehow I could sense the Strigoi around us. That was what was making me feel sick. Dimitri turned back to me, and there was a look I'd never seen in his eyes. â€Å"Rose. Listen to me. Run. Run as fast and as hard as you can back to your dorm. Tell the guardians.† I nodded. There was no questioning here. Reaching out, he gripped my upper arm, gaze locked on me to make sure I understood his next words. â€Å"Do not stop,† he said. â€Å"No matter what you hear, no matter what you see, do not stop. Not until you've warned the others. Don't stop unless you're directly confronted. Do you understand?† I nodded again. He released his hold. â€Å"Tell them buria.† I nodded again. â€Å"Run.† I ran. I didn't look back. I didn't ask what he was going to do because I already knew. He was going to stop as many Strigoi as he could so that I could get help. And a moment later, I heard grunts and hits that told me he'd found another. For only a heartbeat, I let myself worry about him. If he died, I was certain I would too. But then I let it go. I couldn't just think about one person, not when hundreds of lives were depending on me. There were Strigoi at our school. It was impossible. It couldn't happen. My feet hit the ground hard, splashing through the slush and mud. Around me, I thought I could hear voices and shapes – not the ghosts from the airport, but the monsters I'd been dreading for so long. But nothing stopped me. When Dimitri and I had first begun training together, he'd made me run laps every day. I'd complained, but he'd stated over and over again that it was essential. It would make me stronger, he had said. And, he'd added, a day could come when I couldn't fight and would have to flee. This was it. The dhampir dorm appeared before me, about half its windows lit. It was near curfew; people were going to bed. I burst in through the doors, feeling like my heart was going to explode from the exertion. The first person I saw was Stan, and I nearly knocked him over. He caught my wrists to steady me. â€Å"Rose, wh – â€Å" â€Å"Strigoi,† I gasped out. â€Å"There are Strigoi on campus.† He stared at me, and for the first time I'd ever seen, his mouth seriously dropped open. Then, he recovered himself, and I could immediately see what he was thinking. More ghost stories. â€Å"Rose, I don't know what you're – â€Å" â€Å"I'm not crazy!† I screamed. Everyone in the dorm's lobby was staring at us. â€Å"They're out there! They're out there, and Dimitri is fighting them alone. You have to help him.† What had Dimitri told me? What was that word? â€Å"Buria. He said to tell you buria.† And like that, Stan was gone. I had never seen any drills for Strigoi attacks, yet the guardians must have conducted them. Things moved too fast for them not to have. Every guardian in the dorm, whether they'd been awake or not, was in the lobby in a matter of minutes. Calls were made. I stood in a semicircle with other novices, who watched our elders organize themselves with amazing efficiency. Glancing around, I realized something. There were no other seniors with me. Since it was Sunday night, all of them had returned to the field experience to protect their Moroi. It was oddly relieving. The Moroi dorms had an extra line of defense. At least, the teenage Moroi did. The elementary campus did not. It had its normal guardian protection, as well as a lot of the same defenses our dorm did, like gratings on all the first-floor windows. Things like that wouldn't keep Strigoi out, but they would slow them down. No one had ever done too much more than that. There'd been no need, not with the wards. Alberta had joined the group and was sending out parties throughout campus. Some were sent to secure buildings. Some were hunting parties, specifically seeking out Strigoi and trying to figure out how many were around. As the guardians thinned out, I stepped forward. â€Å"What should we do?† I asked. Alberta turned to me. Her eyes swept over me and the others standing behind me, ages ranging from fourteen to just a little younger than me. Something flashed across her face. Sadness, I thought. â€Å"You stay here in the dorm,† she said. â€Å"No one can leave – the whole campus is under lockdown. Go up to the floors you live on. There are guardians there organizing you into groups. The Strigoi are less likely to get up there from the outside. If they get in on this floor†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She scanned around us, at the door and windows being monitored. She shook her head. â€Å"Well, we'll deal with that.† â€Å"I can help,† I told her. â€Å"You know I can.† I could tell she was about to disagree, but then she changed her mind. To my surprise, she nodded. â€Å"Take them upstairs. Watch them.† I started to protest being a babysitter, but then she did something really astonishing. She reached inside her coat and handed me a silver stake. A real one. â€Å"Go on,† she said. â€Å"We need them out of the way here.† I started to turn away but then paused. â€Å"What does buria mean?† â€Å"Storm,† she said softly. â€Å"It's Russian for ‘storm.'† I led the other novices up the stairs, directing them to their floors. Most were terrified, which was perfectly understandable. A few of them – the older ones in particular – looked like I felt. They wanted to do something, anything to help. And I knew that even though they were a year from graduation, they were still deadly in their way. I pulled a couple of them aside. â€Å"Keep them from panicking,† I said in a low voice. â€Å"And stay on watch. If something happens to the older guardians, it'll be up to you.† Their faces were sober, and they nodded at my directions. They understood perfectly. There were some novices, like Dean, who didn't always grasp the seriousness of our lives. But most did. We grew up fast. I went to the second floor because I figured that was where I'd be most useful. If any Strigoi got past the first floor, this was the next logical target. I showed my stake to the guardians on duty and told them what Alberta had said. They respected her wishes, but I could tell they didn't want me to be too involved. They directed me down a wing with one small window. Only someone my size or smaller could probably fit through, and I knew that particular section of the building was nearly impossible to climb up, due to its outside shape. But, I patrolled it anyway, desperate to know what was going on. How many Strigoi were there? Where were they? I realized then that I had a good way of finding out. Still keeping an eye on my window as best I could, I cleared my mind and slipped into Lissa's head. Lissa was with a group of other Moroi on an upper floor of her dorm too. The lockdown procedures were undoubtedly the same across campus. There was a bit more tension in this group than with mine, probably due to the fact that even while inexperienced, the novices with me right now had some idea how to fight Strigoi. The Moroi had none, despite those adamant Moroi political groups wanting to instigate some sort of training sessions. The logistics of that were still being figured out. Eddie was near Lissa. He looked so fierce and so strong – like he could single-handedly take on every Strigoi on campus. I was so glad that he among my classmates was assigned to her. Since I was completely inside her mind now, I got the full force of her feelings. Jesse's torture session seemed meaningless now compared to a Strigoi attack. Unsurprisingly, she was terrified. But most of her fear wasn't for herself. It was for me and Christian. â€Å"Rose is fine,† a voice nearby said. Lissa glanced over at Adrian. He'd apparently been in the dorm rather than guest housing. He had on his usual lazy face, but I could see fear masked behind his green eyes. â€Å"She can take on any Strigoi. Besides, Christian told you she was with Belikov. She's probably safer than we are.† Lissa nodded, wanting desperately to believe that. â€Å"But Christian†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Adrian, for all his bravado, suddenly looked away. He wouldn't meet her eyes or offer any conciliatory words. I didn't need to hear the explanation because I read it from Lissa's mind. She and Christian had wanted to meet alone and talk about what had happened to her in the woods. They'd been supposed to sneak out and meet at his â€Å"lair† in the chapel's attic. She hadn't been fast enough and had been caught by curfew just before the attack, meaning she remained in the dorm while Christian was still out there. It was Eddie who offered the words of comfort. â€Å"If he's in the chapel, he's fine. He really is the safest of all of us.† Strigoi couldn't enter holy ground. â€Å"Unless they burn it down,† said Lissa. â€Å"They used to do that.† â€Å"Four hundred years ago,† said Adrian. â€Å"I think they've got easier pickings around here without needing to go all medieval.† Lissa flinched at the words easier pickings. She knew Eddie was right about the chapel, but she couldn't shake the thought that Christian might have been on his way back to the dorm and been caught in the middle. The worry was eating her up, and she felt helpless with no way to do or find out anything. I returned to my own body, standing in the second floor hallway. Finally, I really and truly grasped what Dimitri had said about the importance of guarding someone who wasn't psychically linked to me. Don't get me wrong; I was still worried about Lissa. I worried more about her than any other Moroi on campus. The only way I wouldn't have been worried would have been if she were miles away, ringed in wards and guardians. But at least I knew she was as safe as she could be right now. That was something. But Christian †¦ I had no idea. I had no link to tell me his whereabouts or to even let me know if he was alive. This was what Dimitri had meant. It was an entirely different game when you didn't have a bond – and it was a scary one. I stared at the window without seeing it. Christian was out there. He was my charge. And even if the field experience was hypothetical†¦ well, it didn't change things. He was a Moroi. He might be in danger. I was the one who was supposed to guard him. They came first. I took a deep breath and wrestled with the decision before me. I'd been given orders, and guardians followed orders. With the dangers around us, following orders was what kept us organized and efficient. Playing rebel could sometimes get people killed. Mason had proven that in going after the Strigoi in Spokane. But it wasn't like I was the only one who faced danger here. Everyone was at risk. There was no safety, not until all the Strigoi were gone from campus, and I had no clue how many there were. Guarding this window was busy work, meant to keep me out of the way. True, someone could invade the second floor, and I'd be useful then. And true, a Strigoi could try to get in through this window, but that was unlikely. It was too difficult, and, as Adrian had pointed out, they had easier ways to get prey. But I could go through the window. I knew it was wrong, even as I opened the window up. I was exposing myself here, but I had conflicting instincts. Obey orders. Protect Moroi. I had to go make sure Christian was okay. Chilly night air blew in. No sounds from outside revealed what was happening. I'd climbed out of my room's window a number of times and had some experience with it. The problem here was that the stone beneath the window was perfectly smooth. There was no handhold. There was a small ledge down by the first floor, but the distance to it was longer than my height, so I couldn't simply slide down. If I could get to that ledge, however, I could walk off to the corner of the building where some scalloped edging would let me climb down easily. I stared at the ledge below. I was going to have to drop down to it. If I fell, I'd probably break my neck. Easy pickings for Strigoi, as Adrian would say. With a quick prayer to whoever was listening, I climbed out of the window, holding onto its sill with both hands and letting my body dangle as close to the lower ledge as I could. I still had two more feet between it and me. I counted to three and released my hold, dragging my hands along the wall as I dropped. My feet hit the ledge and I started to wobble, but my dhampir reflexes kicked in. I regained my balance and stood there, holding the wall. I'd made it. From this point, I easily moved to the corner and climbed down. I hit the ground, barely noticing I'd skinned my hands. The quad around me was silent, though I thought I heard some screams in the distance. If I were a Strigoi, I wouldn't mess with this dorm. They'd get a fight here, and while most Strigoi could probably take out a group of novices at once, there were easier ways. Moroi were less likely to put up a real fight, and anyway, Strigoi preferred their blood to ours. Still, I moved cautiously as I set out toward the chapel. I had the cover of darkness, but Strigoi could see in it even better than I could. I used trees as covers, looking every way I could, wishing I had eyes in the back of my head. Nothing, save more screams in the distance. I realized then that I didn't have that nauseous feeling from earlier. Somehow, that feeling was an indicator of nearby Strigoi. I didn't entirely trust it enough to walk off blindly, but it was reassuring to know I had some kind of early alarm system. Halfway to the chapel, I saw someone move out from behind a tree. I spun around, stake in hand, and nearly struck Christian in the heart. â€Å"God, what are you doing?† I hissed. â€Å"Trying to get back to the dorm,† he said. â€Å"What's going on? I heard screaming.† â€Å"There are Strigoi on campus,† I said. â€Å"What? How?† â€Å"I don't know. You have to go back to the chapel. It's safe there.† I could see it; we could get there easily. Christian was as reckless as me sometimes, and I almost expected a fight. He didn't give me one. â€Å"Okay. Are you going with me?† I started to say I would, and then I felt that nauseous feeling creep over me. â€Å"Get down!† I yelled. He dropped to the ground without hesitation. Two Strigoi were on us. They both moved in on me, knowing I'd be an easy target for their combined strength, and then they could go after Christian. One of them slammed me into a tree. My vision blurred for half a second, but I soon recovered. I shoved back and had the satisfaction of seeing her stagger a little. The other one – a man – reached for me, and I dodged him, slipping out of his grasp. The pair of them reminded me of Isaiah and Elena from Spokane, but I refused to get caught up in memories. Both were taller than me, but the woman was closer to my height. I feinted toward him, and then struck out as fast as I could toward her. My stake bit into her heart. It surprised both of us. My first Strigoi staking. I'd barely pulled the stake out when the other Strigoi backhanded me, snarling. I staggered but kept my balance as I sized him up. Taller. Stronger. Just like when I'd fought Dimitri. Probably faster too. We circled and then I leapt out and kicked him. He barely budged. He reached for me, and I again managed to dodge as I scanned for some opening to stake him. My narrow escape didn't slow him down, though, and he immediately attacked again. He knocked me to the ground, pinning my arms. I tried to push him off, but he didn't move. Saliva dripped from his fangs as he leaned his face down toward mine. This Strigoi wasn't like Isaiah, wasting time with stupid speeches. This one was going to go in for the kill, draining my blood and then Christian's. I felt the fangs against my neck and knew I was going to die. It was horrible. I wanted to live so, so badly†¦but this was how it would end. With my last moments, I started to yell at Christian to run, but then the Strigoi above me sudde nly lit up like a torch. He jerked back, and I rolled out from underneath him. Thick flames covered his body, completely obscuring any of his features. He was just a man-shaped bonfire. I heard a few strangled screams before he grew silent. He fell to the ground, twitching and rolling before finally going still. Steam rose from where fire hit the snow, and the flames soon burned out, revealing nothing but ashes underneath. I stared at the charred remains. Only moments ago, I'd expected to die. Now my attacker was dead. I nearly reeled from how close I'd been to dying. Life and death were so unpredictable. So close to each other. We existed moment to moment, never knowing who would be the next to leave this world. I was still in it, barely, and as I looked up from the ashes, everything around me seemed so sweet and so beautiful. The trees. The stars. The moon. I was alive – and I was glad I was. I turned to Christian, who was crouched on the ground. â€Å"Wow,† I said, helping him up. Obviously, he was the one who had saved me. â€Å"No shit,† he said. â€Å"Didn't know I had that much power.† He peered around, body rigid and tense. â€Å"Are there more?† â€Å"No,† I said. â€Å"You seem pretty certain.† â€Å"Well†¦this is going to sound weird, but I can kind of sense them. Don't ask how,† I said, seeing his mouth open. â€Å"Just roll with it. I think it's like the ghost thing, a shadow-kissed side effect. Whatever. Let's get back to the chapel.† He didn't move. A strange, speculative look was on his face. â€Å"Rose †¦ do you really want to hole up in the chapel?† â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"We just took out two Strigoi,† he said, pointing to the staked and charred bodies. I met his eyes, the full impact of what he was saying hitting me. I could sense Strigoi. He could use his fire on them. I could stake them. Provided we didn't hit a group of ten or something, we could do some serious damage. Then reality hit. â€Å"I can't,† I told him slowly. â€Å"I can't risk your life†¦.† â€Å"Rose. You know what we could do. I can see it in your face. It's worth risking one Moroi life – and, well, yours – to take out a bunch of Strigoi.† Putting a Moroi in danger. Taking him out to fight Strigoi. It pretty much went against everything I'd been taught. All of a sudden, I remembered that brief moment of clarity I'd just had, the wonderful joy of being alive. I could save so many others. I had to save them. I would fight as hard as I could. â€Å"Don't use your full power on them,† I finally said. â€Å"You don't need to incinerate them in ten seconds like that. Just light them up enough to distract them, and then I'll finish them. You can save your power.† A grin lit his face. â€Å"We're going hunting?† Oh man. I was going to get in so much trouble. But the idea was too appealing, too exciting. I wanted to fight back. I wanted to protect the people I loved. What I really wanted was to go to Lissa's dorm and protect her. That wasn't the most efficient idea, though. Lissa had my classmates on hand. Others weren't so lucky. I thought about those students, students like Jill. â€Å"Let's go to the elementary campus,† I said. We set off at a light run, taking a route we hoped would keep us away from other Strigoi. I still had no idea how many we were dealing with here, and that was driving me crazy. When we were almost to the other campus, I felt the weird nausea hit me. I called a warning to Christian, just as a Strigoi grabbed him. But Christian was fast. Flames wreathed the Strigoi's head. He screamed and released Christian, trying frantically to put the flames out. The Strigoi never saw me coming with the stake. The whole thing took under a minute. Christian and I exchanged looks. Yeah. We were badasses. The elementary campus proved to be a center of activity. Strigoi and guardians were actively fighting around the entrances to one of the dorms. For a moment, I froze. There were almost twenty Strigoi and half as many guardians. So many Strigoi together†¦Until recently, we'd never heard of them banding together in such large numbers. We'd thought we'd disbanded a large group of them by killing Isaiah, but apparently that wasn't true. I allowed myself only a moment more of shock, and then we jumped into the fray. Emil was near a side entrance, fending off three Strigoi. He was battered and bruised, and the body of a fourth Strigoi lay at his feet. I lunged for one of the three. She didn't see me coming, and I managed to stake her with almost no resistance. I was lucky. Christian meanwhile set flames to the others. Emil's face reflected surprise, but that didn't stop him from staking another of the Strigoi. I got the other. â€Å"You shouldn't have brought him here,† Emil said as we moved to help another guardian. â€Å"Moroi aren't supposed to get involved with this.† â€Å"Moroi should have been involved with this a long time ago,† said Christian through gritted teeth. We spoke little after that. The rest was a blur. Christian and I moved from fight to fight, combining his magic and my stake. Not all of our kills were as fast and easy as our early ones had been. Some fights were long and drawn out. Emil stuck with us, and I honestly lost count of how many Strigoi we took down. â€Å"I know you.† The words startled me. In all this bloodshed, none of us, friend or foe, did much talking. The speaker was a Strigoi who looked to be my own age but was probably at least ten times older. He had shoulder-length blond hair and eyes whose color I couldn't make out. They were ringed in red, which was all that mattered. My only answer was to swing out with my stake, but he dodged that. Christian was setting a couple of other Strigoi on fire, so I was handling this one on my own. â€Å"There's something strange about you now, but I still remember. I saw you years ago, before I was awakened.† Okay, not ten times my age, not if he'd seen me when he was a Moroi. I hoped his talking would distract him. He was actually pretty fast for a young Strigoi. â€Å"You were always with that Dragomir girl, the blonde.† My foot hit him, and I jerked my kick back before he could grab me. He barely budged. â€Å"Her parents wanted you to be her guardian, right? Before they were all killed?† â€Å"I am her guardian,† I grunted. My stake swiped dangerously close to him. â€Å"She's still alive, then†¦There were rumors that she'd died last year†¦Ã¢â‚¬  There was a sense of wonder in his voice, which mixed weirdly with the malice. â€Å"You have no idea what kind of reward I'd get to take down the last living Drag – Ahh!† He'd dodged my stake from hitting his chest again, but this time I managed an upward strike that dragged the stake's tip across his face. It wouldn't kill him there, but the touch of a stake – so filled with life – would feel like acid to the undead. He screamed, but it didn't slow his defenses. â€Å"I'll come back for you after I finish her,† he snarled. â€Å"You'll never get near her,† I growled back. Something shoved into me from the side, a Strigoi that Yuri was fighting. I stumbled but managed to drive my stake through Yuri's Strigoi's heart before he could regain his balance. Yuri gasped his thanks, and then we both turned to other parts of the battle. Only the blond Strigoi was gone. I couldn't find him anywhere. Another took his place, and as I moved toward that one, flames lit up around him, making him an easy mark for my stake. Christian had returned. â€Å"Christian, this Strigoi – â€Å" â€Å"I heard,† he panted. â€Å"We have to go to her!† â€Å"He was messing with you. She's across campus, surrounded by novices and guardians. She'll be okay.† â€Å"But – â€Å" â€Å"They need us here.† I knew he was right – and I knew how hard it was for him to say that. Like me, he wanted to run off to Lissa. Despite all the good work he was doing here, I suspected he would rather have sunk all his magic into protecting her, keeping her ringed in a wall of fire no Strigoi could cross. I had no time to deeply investigate the bond, but I could sense the important things: She was alive, and she wasn't in pain. So I stayed on, fighting with Christian and Yuri. Lissa hovered at the back of my mind, the bond telling me she was okay. Aside from that, I let battle lust consume me. I had one goal and one alone: Kill Strigoi. I couldn't let them get into this dorm, nor could I let them leave this area and possibly go to Lissa's dorm. I lost track of time. Only the Strigoi I was currently fighting at any given moment mattered. And as soon as that one was gone, it was on to the next. Until there wasn't a next one. I was sore and exhausted, adrenaline burning through my body. Christian stood beside me, panting. He hadn't engaged in physical combat like me, but he'd used a lot of magic tonight, and that had taken its own physical toll. I looked around. â€Å"We gotta find another one,† I said. â€Å"There are no others,† a familiar voice said. I turned and looked into Dimitri's face. He was alive. All the fear for him I'd held back burst through me. I wanted to throw myself at him and hold him as close to me as possible. He was alive – battered and bloody, yes – but alive. His gaze held mine for just a moment, reminding me of what had happened in the cabin. It felt like a hundred years ago, but in that brief glance, I saw love and concern – and relief. He'd been worried about me too. Then Dimitri turned and gestured to the eastern sky. I followed the motion. The horizon was pink and purple. It was nearly sunrise. â€Å"They're either dead or have run away,† he told me. He glanced between Christian and me. â€Å"What you two did – â€Å" â€Å"Was stupid?† I suggested. He shook his head. â€Å"One of the most amazing things I've ever seen. Half of those are yours.† I looked back at the dorm, shocked at the number of bodies lying around it. We had killed Strigoi. We had killed a lot of them. Death and killing were horrible things†¦but I had liked doing what I just did. I had defeated the monsters who had come after me and those in my care. Then I noticed something. My stomach twisted, but it was nothing like my earlier Strigoi-sensing feeling. This was caused by something entirely different. I turned back to Dimitri. â€Å"There are more than just Strigoi bodies there,† I said in a small voice. â€Å"I know,† he said. â€Å"We've lost a lot of people, in all senses of the word.† Christian frowned. â€Å"What do you mean?† Dimitri's face was both hard and sad. â€Å"The Strigoi killed some Moroi and dhampirs. And some†¦some they carried away.†