Vampire Academy: The Ultimate Guide by Richelle Mead, Michelle Rowen Page B

the others leave her alone. She can’t get away—they’re everywhere and they’re reaching for her. Finally, Rose can’t take it anymore, and she passes out from the fear and pain.
    When she wakes, she’s in the school’s clinic, and everybody’s worried about her. Finally she tells them the truth: she’s been seeing ghosts, including Mason.
    As predicted, no one—her friends or the school officials—believes her. It seems clear to the school doctor that her visions are a result of post-traumatic stress. Witnessing Mason’s murder and then killing the Strigoi responsible must have taken their toll on her. Obviously, her recovery has been hindered by fighting the “fake” Strigoi during the field experience sessions.
    It’s suggested that she drop the field experience entirely, but Rose doesn’t like this suggestion at all—she needs to pass to graduate. Dimitri, deeply concerned with Rose’s well-being but also familiar with her stubborn streak, suggests she take part in the testing part-time. She’s also to see a counselor.
    Rose is grateful Dimitri stepped in and helped, but she doesn’t realize quite how upset he was to see her in such distress.
    “Rose,” he said, the pain in his voice making my heart stop, “this shouldn’t have been the first time I heard about this! Why didn’t you tell me? Do you know what it was like? Do you know what it was like for me to see you like that and not know what was happening? Do you know how scared I was?”
    I was stunned, both from his outburst and our proximity. I swallowed, unable to speak at first. There was so much on his face, so many emotions. I couldn’t recall the last time I’d seen that much of him on display. It was wonderful and frightening at the same time. I then said the stupidest thing possible.
    “You’re not scared of anything.”
    “I’m scared of lots of things. I was scared for you.” He released me, and I stepped back. There was still passion and worry written all over him.
    —pages 253-254
     
     
    She didn’t tell him about the ghosts because he wouldn’t have believed her. He still doesn’t believe her. But it makes sense to her that she’s the only one who can see the ghostly visions—she’s shadow-kissed . Because she died, she has a connection to the world of the dead. Killing the Strigoi has strengthened that connection.
    And this experience has strengthened Rose and Dimitri’s relationship. This has shown Rose how much he cares about her—and it’s not just the concern of a tutor for his student. It’s way deeper and more powerful than that.
    When they part, Rose realizes she forgot her overnight bag and heads back to the clinic to retrieve it. There, she spots another Moroi student, Abby Badica, who’s been beaten up by the mysterious school bully. To get to the truth, Rose pretends she already knows what’s going on, and Abby begs Rose to “keep things quiet until everything’s set.” If the rest of the “Mână” find out she’s at the clinic for medical attention, she’ll get in trouble. She tells Rose that she wants the chance to “try again.”
    When the doctor arrives, Rose is blocked from getting more information, but now she definitely has a clue who’s behind the recent royal-bashing—they’re called the Mână.
    Rose starts to guard Christian again as she heads to class—and Adrian’s hanging around, too. While Christian continues to fight his jealousy, Lissa teaches Adrian how to bring plants back to life. Adrian also shares what he’s learned about their mysterious mutual ability. There are stories about “super compulsion” being used to make others live through their worst nightmares, kind of like a vivid hallucination. Sounds pretty scary, actually.
    As they walk back to their dorms, Rose suggests to Adrian that he be careful of Christian’s rising jealousy toward him and Lissa.
    “What?” he asked in mock astonishment. “Doesn’t he know my heart belongs to you?”
    “It