Starting a college essay
What Is A Good Topic For A Persuasive Essay
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Contemporary issues in managing human resources Essay - 1
Contemporary issues in overseeing HR - Essay Example As affirmed by Ferris, et al. (1999), ââ¬Å"driven by various critical inward and outside natural powers, HRM has advanced from a to a great extent support work, with little if any main concern sway, to what numerous researchers and specialists today see as the wellspring of continued upper hand for associations working in a worldwide economyâ⬠(p. 385). Further, contemporary HRM issues incorporate the more qualified term utilizing key HRM as building up the connection towards observing the nature of representative presentation. Another plaguing worry of worldwide associations is the choice for cutting back, explicitly when outer ecological weights and serious elements encroach on the dynamic procedure, to guarantee endurance and proceeded with creation and activity. In such manner, the ebb and flow research expects to proffer issues in contemporary HRM, especially concentrating on scaling down. The goal is wanted to be achieved by at first characterizing significant terms, for example, HRM, key HRM, and scaling back. A finishing up segment would feature the critical issues talked about as bolstered by different legitimate sources from scholarly diaries regarding the matter of HRM. Meaning of Terms An assessment of different meanings of HRM by creators, academicians, and the executives specialists, shows more typical components than divergent ideas. In the wake of combining these components, the accompanying definition is shown up at: HRM is the workmanship and study of securing, persuading, keeping up, and creating individuals in their employments considering their own, proficient and specialized information, abilities, possibilities, needs and values and in synchronization with the accomplishment of individual, association and societyââ¬â¢s objectives. HRM manages individuals so they can deal with different assets inside their space of obligations all the more adequately. Then again, key HR the executives (SHRM) is characterized by Boxall and Purcell (2003) as ââ¬Å"concerned with clarifying how HRM impacts hierarchical execution. They likewise call attention to that methodology isn't equivalent to vital plans. Key arranging is the conventional procedure that happens, generally in bigger associations, characterizing how things will be finished. Anyway procedure exists in all associations despite the fact that it may not be recorded and enunciated. It characterizes the organisationââ¬â¢s conduct and how it attempts to adapt to its environment.â⬠Authors Boxall and Purcell inspected the interrelationships and degree by which authoritative objectives are accomplished and impacted by HRM. They separated HRM from SHRM by showing that ââ¬Å"HRM was characterized as including ââ¬Å"anything and everything related with the board of work relations in the firmâ⬠(Boxall and Purcell, 2000, p. 184). The hypothetical reason for the consideration of the word key to HRM was itemized utilizing a survey of different literary wor ks from researchers regarding the matter. Boxall and Purcell at long last affirmed at this meaning of SHRM as ââ¬Å"concerned with the vital decisions related with the utilization of work in firms and with clarifying why a few firms oversee them more viably than othersâ⬠(2000, p. 185). As indicated by Miller (2001), ââ¬Å"HRM couldn't be conceptualized as an independent corporate issueâ⬠(p. 348). The consideration of technique was viewed as a fundamental expansion to join promoting endeavors to increase upper hand with successful utilization of the
Saturday, August 22, 2020
International business through an International Strategic Alliance
Chapter by chapter list Errand. 1Existing worldwide vital coalition for examination purposes LG Electronics. Errand: 2 Motivation for the development of the global vital collusion chose. Errand 3. Basic conversation of the types of the board that can be utilized to deal with the collusion. Assignment 4. Propose 4 proposals to senior administration of your new organization about how the potential vital association could be upgraded. References Question-select one existing global vital union for investigation purposes (contextual analysis)? Undertaking. 1Existing global key coalition for investigation purposes LG Electronics In the system, we comprehended three center skills item administration, understudy initiative market authority. For example L.G. Hardware make an incentive for customer.L.G item are that item in the market who will make an incentive in the market. First we concentrated on the firm for breaking down the firm foundation maker of cell phone. L.G. is the item in the market that have the firm capabilities to grow a lot of the worldwide portable markets increment the association benefit. Today, world has loads of rivalry in the market. First investigate the market at that point make an item as indicated by the client needs. There are heaps of serious items in the market .In the center capabilities of item development (item administration in the market). Item is that type in the association which is powerful for the entire market. System qualities are separated into four sections. These parts are clarify below:(Mongay, 2012) (1) COMPETENCIES MUST BE VALUABLE: Value abilities help the firm an incentive for the client in the market. Adventure showcase openings or kill dangers for contenders. For instance : association with an item development in the market or make another item abuse the business in the market as indicated by the client needs or In another term we can say misuse the business as indicated by the outside condition. For example APPLE iTunes computerized music stores give a great deal of room to store the music in this gadget. They are sensible in cost with simple access for clients, fulfilled their need of listening the music. They are helpful simple to get to this item. Smooth structure of L.G. cell phone draw in the client .There are loads of capacity, video office, music office, ability to sit in the market stage the parcel of contenders at that point make a qualities in the market part of current proposals in the market.(Demers, 2013) (2) COMPETENCIES MUST BE RARE: Rare methods few. First of fall we will know total the errand or the undertaking with a similar quality item. Firm holds the center abilities that are significant however not uncommon. Search for example L.G numerous other substitute items in the market. Both the firm are center capability in the worldwide world. In any case, the skills of both the item are significant in the market. These items are not uncommon but rather the item esteem in the market. Yet, we will clarify the case of uncommon item in the market. These items are LG .interestingly, in the item are the structure of the item the smooth plan of LG item or the level model of LCD screen Television. These are the uncommon things in the product.(PULIZZI, 2013) (3) COMPETENCIES MUST BE DIFFICULT TO IMITATE: Competitors need to mirror another firm worth uncommon center skills. Anyway doing so might be troublesome. For example L.G. item administration is that the item plan or capacity of the capacity. However, there are part of rivals in the market. (4)COMPETENCIES MUST BE DIFFICULT TO NONSUBSTITUTABLE: These trademark are those trademark that have not a viable alternative for that item in the market.Nonsubstitude items are plan of L.G items that have no substitute in the market. The plans of the versatile, Function of that portable are entirely unexpected. There are no substitutes in the entire world.(ROBERTS, 2014) Question-assess basically the inspiration for the arrangement of the worldwide vital collusion chose? Undertaking: 2 Motivation for the arrangement of the universal key union chose Fruitful business partnerships are the basic key segments in numerous ventures. Be that as it may, numerous systems are flopping at some point as per the accomplice, barely centered around industry, poor union administration for actualizing the item making new one. At some point association will be illed from the entire procedure of techniques. Colleague take wrong choice for apply the technique in the firm. At the point when firm is opened a few focuses are noticed that: These point are: key administration based industry accomplice choice procedure, another powerful accomplice determination device are utilized in the particular firm or target firm which is pertinent to various apparatus industry settings, rich worldwide travel industry application that delineate the best possible accomplice choice procedure logical instrument that are appropriately utilized in the association. Key union development has increment significantly over the previous decades. Key unions moved the serious worldview in numerous residential worldwide markets from firm to firm rivalry to more partnership based market to advertise rivalry in the entire world. Various sorts of systems are utilized in the association. These techniques are the manner by which firm can change the standard with innovative inventive reasoning. Additionally, vital development are online travel, computerized correspondence diversion , including cell phone ,, for example, numerous other distinctive kind of substitutes or in another named we can say option of the item or numerous other various techniques are likewise follow in the association. The association can satisfy the client esteem through new blend of execution quality. Association trying to recognize, create keep up the upper hand progressively step by step. Diverse kind of procedures is follow in the association. These procedures are compelling adapta ble in the association. These systems are satisfying the need of client as indicated by their requirements needs. Be that as it may, expanding the developing number increments vital partnerships many bomb which are performing more prominent extent perform inadequately. Albeit such disappointment might be for some interrelated reasons: These reasons are two normal causes are poor accomplice determination poor collusion the board. A few cases unrivaled union administration aptitudes may not be conquered poor coalition the board or in another term we can say poor collusion key procedure. Various kinds of key procedure are utilized in the association yet some key unions are poor bomb in the association some are abundance the business or overabundance the firm in the market. For this situation determination of new powerful accomplice in the association numerous other new unique kind of devices procedure are utilized to broaden the business or firm .Many other distinctive sort of strategy are utilized these procedure are factual technique, diagrammatical strategy, contextual investigation technique, a ssessing technique, likelihood technique or numerous other various sorts of method are additionally utilized in the business or association. Entirely different kind of reasonable techniques is utilized to expand the business or firm. Informal organization, new culture, condition are receive in the business or executing a wide range of sort of strategies, instrument, strategy for improve the business or firm. Some commonsense encounters are utilized to comprehend the market center around advertise system. As indicated by the individual needs other various sorts of devices procedures for looking for the changed techniques are utilized in the firm to broaden the business development of industry. Usage changes of item or procedure in the market as per the needs of client or outer condition or numerous other market techniques are utilized to actualize the business in the association. Question-incorporate a basic conversation of the types of the executives that can be utilized to deal with the coalition? Undertaking 3. Basic conversation of the types of the board that can be utilized to deal with the partnership Vital partnership might be one of the most abused works in the business today. Various sorts of technique are utilized in the business. The five rules of vital coalitions are: What is that making unions really key to a specific organization? It is feasible for a coalition to be key one of the repels in relationship. Numerous partnerships are as income age which is significant for business or in another term we can say firm. However, income alone may not be making appropriate vital for the business or firm in the association or without income the association can't play out any objective in the association. There are five general standards that are utilized for key partnerships. These standards are as beneath: Basic to the achievement of business objective or targets in the association or firm Basic to the turn of events or upkeep of upper hand Obstructs a serious danger Make or keep up key decisions in a firm or in another term we can say association Critical hazard to the business These five are the basic focuses in the key collusions which will be clarified underneath. Basic TO A BUSINESS OBJECTIVE OR GOAL: First step is to comprehend what the objective in the association is. What is the normal sort of union are produce income in the market procedure. How they interface in the market? Income is the most significant partnerships in the market. Without income association can sit idle. The most significant coalition is income. Few out of every odd partnership that produces yet income is vital. For example sway on income if there is an effect in relationship. Genuine relationship key is the most significant effect in developing the income in the, showcase. Notwithstanding a solitary vital union related gathering of partnerships in the association. Systems administration is the most significant technique for gathering the partnerships in th
Monday, August 10, 2020
So many problem sets
So many problem sets Now that term has geared up a bit, most classes have given some sort of homework, usually in the form of a problem set. I thought the prospectives on here might be curious to see what problems on problem sets are actually like, so Ive posted a few of the problems from my own problem sets (dont give me the answers! I havent solved all of these yet!). 9.22 has presentations and readings, not psets, so I didnt post anything from it. 6.004 has labs rather than problem sets, so I posted a problem from the first lab, which is due this week. 5.12 Organic Chemistry 3. Sphingosine, a component of sphingomyelin, is part of the cellular lipid bilayer. For sphingosine, a) draw in all of the hydrogen atoms. Label each sp3 carbon according to b) C-C connectivity and c) C-H connectivity (Y = methyl, E = methylene, I = methine). c) Label each amine, alcohol, and hydrogen by sp3 CC connectivity. 5. a) Draw Newman projects for the six energy maxima and minima for 2- methylhexane, sighting along the C2-C3 bond. b) Calculate the energy of each conformation. (Assume the same energy values for â"Pr that you would for â"Me.) c) Use these values to make a graph of potential energy versus dihedral angle. d) What is the barrier to rotation around the C2-C3 bond? 7.03 Genetics 4. This problem deals with the following pedigree [not pictured in this entry], which shows the inheritance of a very rare trait. (a) Assume that the inherited disorder is expressed with complete penetrance and that there are no new mutations. What mode(s) of inheritance is/are consistent with this pedigree? (Your choices are: X-linked dominant, X-linked recessive, autosomal recessive, autosomal dominant.) (b) For each consistent mode of inheritance, what are the probabilities that Individuals 1 and 2 will have: ⦠an affected son? ⦠an affected daughter? ⦠an unaffected son? ⦠an unaffected daughter? (c) Use Bayes theorem to calculate the probability that the next child of Individuals 1 and 2 will be affected with the disorder, given the new knowledge that the couple already has two healthy sons. Do this calculation for each mode of inheritance consistent with the pedigree. 9.29/ Intro to Computational Neuroscience 1. Mathematics of the integrate-and-fire neuron a) For a spherical neuron with a surface area of 0.03 mm2, a specific membrane capacitance of cm = 10 nF/mm2, a specific membrane resistance of rm = 1 M?-mm2, and a resting membrane potential EL = -70: i) What is the total membrane capacitance Cm? ii) What is the specific membrane conductance gm? What is the total membrane conductance Gm? What is the total membrane resistance Rm? iii) What is the membrane time constant tm? iv) How much external electrode current would be required to hold the neuron at a membrane potential of -60 mV? v) If this amount of current is turned on at time t = 0 and held at this value, how long will the neuron take to reach a membrane potential of -65 mV if the cell is initially at a voltage V = E_L? vi) Calculate the total charge required to polarize the neuron to the resting potential. Assume the predominant conductance is potassium and use [K]_in=140mM for the concentration of potassium in mammalian neurons. What fraction of the total number of K+ ions in the neuron is lost as the neuron is polarized? b) Show that V(t) = E_L + R_mI_e + (V(t_0) E_L R_mI_e)exp(-(t t_0)/T_m) where the constant t0 is any reference time, satisfies the equation T_m(dV/dt) = E_L V + R_m I_e when Ie is a constant. Also verify that when t = t_0, the left and right sides of the equation agree and that when t ? 8, V(t) ? V(8) = E_L + R_mI_e. Setting t_0 equal to the current time in a computer simulation and t equal to the next time step a time ?t later gives the one-time-step update rule we will use for simulating the integrate-and-fire neuron (and which we will use more generally for simulating any equation of the form of equation (0.2) above, e.g. in problem 3 for the spike rate adaptation conductance below if we substitute g_sra for V and set E_L=I_e=0): V ? E_L + R_mI_e + (V E_L R_mI_e)exp(-?t/T_m), where this shorthand notation means that, in the time step ?t, the voltage gets updated from its old value to the value on the right of the arrow, i.e. V(t-t_0) ? E_L + R_mI_e + (V(t) E_L R_mI_e)exp(-?t/T_m) 6.004 Computation Structures (C) To maximize noise margins we want to have the transition in the voltage transfer characteristic (VTC) of the nand2 gate centered halfway between ground and the power supply voltage (3.3V). To determine the VTC for nand2, well perform a dc analysis to plot the gates output voltage as a function of the input voltage using the following additional netlist statements: * dc analysis to create VTC Xtest vin vin vout nand2 Vin vin 0 0v Vol vol 0 0.3v // make measurements easier! Voh voh 0 3v // see part (D) .dc Vin 0 3.3 .005 .plot vin vout voh vol Combine this netlist fragment with the one given at the start of this section and run the simulation. To center the VTC transition, keep the size of the nfet in the nand2 definition as SW=8 SL=1 and adjust the width of both pfets until the plots for vin and vout intersect at about 1.65 volts. Just try different integral widths (i.e, 9, 10, 11, ). Report the integral width that comes closest to having the curves intersect at 1.65V.
Saturday, May 23, 2020
Music Education And Its Impact On Education Essay
As you can see, music and dance are very influential in the culture of Brazil. Therefore, music education is also important in the lives of the Brazilian people. Children are exposed to music from an early age through family and community. Unfortunately, music education is not highly regarded in the school system. The amount of music education differs greatly by school and teachers. Most public schools do not have a special music teacher or department. In order to be well educated in music a student would need to attend a private school or a conservatory. As we transition into talking about education, we see that there are many different positives and negatives to school in southern Brazil. Education is a factor that strongly influences every culture. The way in which young people are educated will determine the way in which a culture grows throughout the next generation. The value a society places on education is a strong indicator of their worldview and what the culture believes to be important. Education is valued by the Brazilian government. This is clear because public education is free of charge to students in all areas of Brazil. There are also numerous programs in place to help children pay for school and to make sure adults are literate. People in Brazil value education because they see it as the key to overcoming the economic struggles of families and the country as a whole. Children ages six to fourteen are required by law to attend school, this is known asShow MoreRelatedThe Current State Of The Cambodian Traditional Music Revival And The Large Impact Of Cultural Music Education1539 Words à |à 7 Pagesto see the current state of the Cambodian traditional music revival and the large impact of cultural music education, it fails to see the external benefits of this music that promotes ââ¬Å"a culture of peace, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and its contribution to sustainable developmentâ⬠.29 This cultural benefit is one of the biggest answers to the question of why this music education and the survival of traditional music is important. Despite the lack of coverage this elementRead MoreMusic Education Has On A Student929 Words à |à 4 Pages Music education is often pushed to the side in terms of academics. It is often the victim of many budget cuts as it is seen as unnecessary and expensive. Looking from an outside point of view, most fail to realize how much of an impact music has on a student. The only loss they see when cutting a music program is that a student would simply no longer have the ability to learn an instrument. However, music education proves to provide much more knowledge and skills to a student than that. In learningRead MorePublic Funding Should Not Support Public Schools in Music and Arts628 Words à |à 3 PagesEnglish 301A 14 September 2012 Public Funding should not support Public Schools in Music and Arts Education is one of the major problems faced by US as a nation and several debates pertaining to allocation of education funds are underway. The use of public education funds is one such matter which is debated very highly. The consequences of public education fundââ¬â¢s spending are long-term which makes this issue very important. Also, limited availability of public funds makes it essential for theseRead MoreMusic And Its Effect On Students1202 Words à |à 5 PagesMusic is a defining element in cultures around the world, and people are surrounded by it. It appears in movies, sporting events, nature, and important ceremonies. Even though music is an important element of society and everyday life, it is starting to decline in the nationââ¬â¢s schools. Although music does not seem as important as other core classes such as math and English, it is often forgotten that music impacts students in ways that applies to their core classes. From a young age, music developsRead MoreThe Internet Impacts The Lives Of Every Global Citizen1520 Words à |à 7 PagesThe Internet impacts the lives of every global citizen. With wireless internet present in everything from department stores to restaurants, it is evident that people today need the internet just about any time of day. A smartphone would not be considered a smartphone if it lacked Internet access or social media sites. The world today is so interconnected and informed due to the efficiency of the Internet. The introduction of the Internet changed the world for the better with many great improvementsRead MoreEssay about Music Education1005 Words à |à 5 Pages ââ¬Å"It had never occurred to me before that music and thinking are so much alike. In fact you could say music is another way of thinkingâ⬠¦.â⬠--Ursula K. Le Guin nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ursula K. Le Guin makes an excellent point in her quote; music and thinking are so much alike that it is almost as if they are one and the same. Music has a huge impact on the brain. It has been proven that it makes contributions to the development of cognitive and perceptual skills, refines the development ofRead MoreMusic is Essential to a Complete Education1398 Words à |à 6 PagesEducation is the foundation that our entire society is built on. Without education, society could not grow and prosper. Without education, we wouldnt have things like electricity, plumbing, or any other common amenities that is present in our society today. Education is important to not only the children receiving it, but to their parents and members of the community as a whole. Education is offered to many in U.S. thanks to public education, and laws that say children must be in school until theyRead MoreThe Effects Of Music On Achievement, Attitude And Retention Essay1238 Wor ds à |à 5 PagesMiles Ishigaki Music 9 20 September 2016 Article Analysis The article ââ¬Å"The effects of music on achievement, attitude and retention in primary school English lessonsâ⬠by Koksal, Yagisan, and Cekic show the impact music has in the classroom. The Article claims ââ¬Å"best learning environment is one that includes musicâ⬠(Kà ¶ksal, et al. 1897). Meaning music activates different parts of the brain that coincide with memory. Through an experimental study mentioned in the article shows music has a ââ¬Å"increasedRead MoreMusic Is The Most Popular Genres Of Music Essay1669 Words à |à 7 PagesMusic has been found in every culture in present time, as well as in the past, dating back almost 55,000 years (citation), with roots in Africa. Music is one of the most basic art forms and is a way of life for many; a means of expression relative to emotions, culture, and oneââ¬â¢s self. Music is all around us and itââ¬â¢s hard to imagine going one day without listening to some variety of music. Music has evolved tremendously fro m prehistoric times today, but one thingââ¬â¢s stayed the same ââ¬â one cultureââ¬â¢sRead MoreThe Effects Of Music Education On Children s Learning And How The Length Of Teaching Essay1611 Words à |à 7 Pages young children have curious minds leading new discoveries based on their capabilities. We introduce new motives to children in order for them to grow and develop. Some may introduce sports; others may introduce math or science. Some maybe even a music instrument or some paint. The Arts plays an important role in a childââ¬â¢s expression, creativity, and academic achievement. Primarily in elementary and middle school itââ¬â¢s important for young kids to be exposed to an extracurricular that helps set basic
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Blood Promise Chapter Thirty Free Essays
string(55) " hugged me and seemed genuinely happy to have me back\." Alberta was waiting for me in the front office of the guardiansââ¬â¢ administrative building. Albertaââ¬â¢s role as captain here was remarkable considering the lower numbers of women in our ranks. She was in her fifties and one of the toughest women Iââ¬â¢d met. We will write a custom essay sample on Blood Promise Chapter Thirty or any similar topic only for you Order Now Her sandy hair was showing some gray, and years of working outdoors had weathered her skin. ââ¬Å"Welcome back, Rose,â⬠she said, standing up at my approach. She certainly didnââ¬â¢t hug me, and her manner was businesslike, but the fact that she used my first name was a generous gesture for her. That, and I thought I saw a small spark of relief and happiness in her eyes. ââ¬Å"Letââ¬â¢s go to my office.â⬠Iââ¬â¢d never been there. Any disciplinary issues I had with the guardians were usually addressed in committee. Unsurprisingly, the office was spotless, everything arranged with military efficiency. We sat on opposite sides of her desk, and I braced myself for an interrogation. ââ¬Å"Rose,â⬠she said, leaning toward me. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m going to be blunt with you. Iââ¬â¢m not going to give you lectures or demand any explanations. Honestly, since you arenââ¬â¢t my student anymore, I donââ¬â¢t have the right to ask or tell you anything.â⬠It was like what Adrian had said. ââ¬Å"You can lecture,â⬠I told her. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve always respected you and want to hear what you have to say.â⬠The ghost of a smile flashed on her face. ââ¬Å"All right, here it is. You screwed up.â⬠ââ¬Å"Wow. You werenââ¬â¢t kidding about bluntness.â⬠ââ¬Å"The reasons donââ¬â¢t matter. You shouldnââ¬â¢t have left. You shouldnââ¬â¢t have dropped out. Your education and training are too valuable-no matter how much you think you know-and you are too talented to risk throwing away your future.â⬠I almost laughed. ââ¬Å"To tell you the truth? Iââ¬â¢m not sure what my future is anymore.â⬠ââ¬Å"Which is why you need to graduate.â⬠ââ¬Å"But I dropped out.â⬠She snorted. ââ¬Å"Then drop back in!â⬠ââ¬Å"I-what? How?â⬠ââ¬Å"With paperwork. Just like everything else in the world.â⬠To be honest, I hadnââ¬â¢t known what Iââ¬â¢d do once I got back here. My immediate concern was Lissa-to be with her and make sure she was okay. I knew I couldnââ¬â¢t officially be her guardian anymore, but Iââ¬â¢d figured once we were together, no one could stop her from hanging out with a friend. Iââ¬â¢d be her hired bodyguard, so to speak, kind of like what Abe had. And in the meantime, Iââ¬â¢d bum around campus like Adrian. But to enroll again? ââ¬Å"Iâ⬠¦ I missed a month. Maybe more.â⬠My days were scattered. It was the first week of May, and Iââ¬â¢d left near the end of March, on my birthday. What was that? Five weeks? Almost six? ââ¬Å"You missed two years and managed to catch up. I have faith in you. And even if you have trouble, graduating with low grades is better than not graduating at all.â⬠I tried to imagine myself back in this world. Had it really only been a little over a month? Classesâ⬠¦ day-to-day intrigueâ⬠¦ how could I just go back to that? How could I return to that life after seeing the way Dimitriââ¬â¢s family lived, after being with Dimitri and losing him-again. Would he have said he loved me? ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know what to say,â⬠I told Alberta. ââ¬Å"This is kind of a lot to take in.â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, you should decide quickly. The sooner youââ¬â¢re back in class, the better.â⬠ââ¬Å"Theyââ¬â¢ll really let me?â⬠That was the part I found a little unbelievable. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll let you,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"No way am I letting someone like you get away. And now that Lazar is goneâ⬠¦ well, things are crazy around here. No oneââ¬â¢s going to give me much trouble in filing the paperwork.â⬠Her wry smile slipped a little. ââ¬Å"And if they do give us any troubleâ⬠¦ Iââ¬â¢ve been made to understand that you have a benefactor who can pull a few favors to smooth everything over.â⬠ââ¬Å"A benefactor,â⬠I repeated flatly. ââ¬Å"A benefactor who wears flashy scarves and gold jewelry?â⬠She shrugged. ââ¬Å"No one I know. Donââ¬â¢t even know his name-only that heââ¬â¢ll threaten to withhold a considerable donation to the school if you arenââ¬â¢t let back in. If you want in.â⬠Yeah. Deals and blackmail. I was pretty sure I knew who my benefactor was. ââ¬Å"Give me some time to think about it. Iââ¬â¢ll decide soon-I promise.â⬠She frowned, thoughtful, and then gave a sharp nod. ââ¬Å"All right.â⬠We both stood up, and she walked me toward the buildingââ¬â¢s entrance. I glanced over at her. ââ¬Å"Hey, if I do graduateâ⬠¦ do you think thereââ¬â¢s ever any way I could be in line to be Lissaââ¬â¢s guardian officially again? I know theyââ¬â¢ve already picked out people for her and that Iââ¬â¢m in, ah, a bit of disgrace.â⬠We stopped by the outer doors, and Alberta rested a hand on her hip. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know. We can certainly try. The situationââ¬â¢s gotten a lot more complicated.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, I know,â⬠I said sadly, recalling Tatianaââ¬â¢s high-handed actions. ââ¬Å"But, like I said, weââ¬â¢ll do what we can. What I said about graduating with low grades? You wonââ¬â¢t. Well, maybe in math and science-but thatââ¬â¢s out of my control. Youââ¬â¢ll be the best among the novices, though. Iââ¬â¢ll work with you myself.â⬠ââ¬Å"Okay,â⬠I said, realizing what a concession that was on her part. ââ¬Å"Thank you.â⬠I had just stepped outside when she called my name. ââ¬Å"Rose?â⬠I caught the door and glanced back. ââ¬Å"Yeah?â⬠Albertaââ¬â¢s face was gentleâ⬠¦ something Iââ¬â¢d never seen before. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m sorry,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"Sorry for everything that happened. And that none of us could do anything about it.â⬠I saw in her eyes then that she knew about Dimitri and me. I wasnââ¬â¢t sure how. Maybe sheââ¬â¢d heard it after the battle; maybe sheââ¬â¢d guessed beforehand. Regardless, there was no chastisement in her face, only sincere sorrow and empathy. I gave her a brief nod of acknowledgment and went outside. I found Christian the next day, but our conversation was brief. He was on his way to meet with some of his trainees and was running late. But he hugged me and seemed genuinely happy to have me back. You read "Blood Promise Chapter Thirty" in category "Essay examples" It showed how far weââ¬â¢d come, considering the antagonistic relationship weââ¬â¢d had when we first met. ââ¬Å"About time,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Lissa and Adrian get the market share on worrying about you, but theyââ¬â¢re not the only ones. And someone needs to put Adrian in his place, you know. I canââ¬â¢t do it all the time.â⬠ââ¬Å"Thanks. It kills me to say this, but I missed you too. No oneââ¬â¢s sarcasm compares to yours in Russia.â⬠My amusement faded. ââ¬Å"But since you mentioned Lissa-ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"No, no.â⬠He held up his hand by way of protest, face hardening. ââ¬Å"I knew you were going to go there.â⬠ââ¬Å"Christian! She loves you. You know that what happened wasnââ¬â¢t her fault-ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"I know that,â⬠he interrupted. ââ¬Å"But it doesnââ¬â¢t mean it didnââ¬â¢t hurt. Rose, I know itââ¬â¢s in your nature to rush in and say what everyone else is afraid to, but pleaseâ⬠¦ not this time. I need time to figure things out.â⬠I had to bite back a lot of comments. Lissa had mentioned Christian in our talk yesterday. What had happened between them was one of her biggest regrets-probably the thing she hated Avery the most for. Lissa wanted to approach him and make up, but heââ¬â¢d kept his distance. And yes, he was right. It wasnââ¬â¢t my place to rush in-yet. But I did need them to fix this. So I respected his wishes and simply nodded. ââ¬Å"Okay. For now.â⬠My last words made his smile twist a little. ââ¬Å"Thanks. Look, Iââ¬â¢ve got to head off. If you ever want to show these kids how to kick ass the old-fashioned way, come by sometime. Jill would pass out if she saw you again.â⬠I told him I would and let him go on his way, seeing as I had places to be. No way was I finished with him, though. I had a dinner date with Adrian and Lissa, up in one of the lounges in guest housing. Talking to Christian had made me late, and I hurried through the buildingââ¬â¢s lobby, barely taking note of my surroundings. ââ¬Å"Always in a rush,â⬠a voice said. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s a wonder anyone can get you to stop moving.â⬠I came to a halt and turned, my eyes wide. ââ¬Å"Momâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ She stood leaning against the wall, arms crossed, with her cropped auburn hair as curly and messy as ever. Her face, weathered like Albertaââ¬â¢s from being out in the elements, was filled with relief and-love. There was no anger, no condemnation. I had never been so happy to see her in my life. I was in her arms in an instant, resting my head on her chest even though she was shorter than me. ââ¬Å"Rose, Rose,â⬠she said into my hair. ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t ever do this again. Please.â⬠I pulled back and looked at her face, astonished to see tears spilling from her eyes. I had seen my mother tear up in the wake of the attack on the school, but never, never had I seen her outright cry. Certainly not over me. It made me want to cry too, and I uselessly tried to dry her face with Abeââ¬â¢s scarf. ââ¬Å"No, no, itââ¬â¢s okay. Donââ¬â¢t cry,â⬠I said, taking on an odd role reversal. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m sorry. I wonââ¬â¢t do it again. I missed you so much.â⬠It was true. I loved Olena Belikova. I thought she was kind and wonderful and would cherish the memories of her comforting me about Dimitri and always going out of her way to feed me. In another life, she could have been my mother-in-law. In this one, I would always regard her as a kind of foster mother. But she wasnââ¬â¢t my real mother. Janine Hathaway was. And standing there with her, I was happy-so, so happy-that I was her daughter. She wasnââ¬â¢t perfect, but no one was, as I was learning. She was, however, good and brave and fierce and compassionate-and I think she understood me more than I realized sometimes. If I could be half the woman she was, my life would be well spent. ââ¬Å"I was so worried,â⬠she told me, recovering herself. ââ¬Å"Where did you go-I mean, I know now you were in Russiaâ⬠¦ but why?â⬠ââ¬Å"I thoughtâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ I swallowed and again saw Dimitri with my stake in his chest. ââ¬Å"Well, there was something I had to do. I thought I had to do it on my own.â⬠I wasnââ¬â¢t sure about that last part now. True, I had accomplished my goal on my own, but I was realizing now how many people loved me and were with me. Who knew how differently things might have turned out if Iââ¬â¢d asked for help? Maybe it would have been easier. ââ¬Å"I have a lot of questions,â⬠she warned. Her voice had toughened, and I smiled in spite of myself. Now she was back to the Janine Hathaway I knew. And I loved her for it. Her eyes flitted to my face and then to my neck, and I saw her stiffen. For a panicked moment, I wondered if Oksana had missed healing one of the bite marks. The thought of my mother seeing what Iââ¬â¢d lowered myself to in Siberia made my heart stop. Instead, she reached out and touched the bright colors of the cashmere scarf, her face filled with wonder as much as shock. ââ¬Å"Thisâ⬠¦ this is Ibrahimââ¬â¢s scarfâ⬠¦ itââ¬â¢s a family heirloomâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ââ¬Å"No, it belongs to this mobster guy named Abeâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ I stopped as soon as the name crossed my lips. Abe. Ibrahim. Hearing them both out loud made me realize how similar they were. Abeâ⬠¦ Abe was short for Abraham in English. Abraham, Ibrahim. There was only a slight variation in the vowels. Abraham was a common enough name in the U.S., but Iââ¬â¢d heard Ibrahim only once before, spoken in scorn by Queen Tatiana when referring to someone my mother had been involved withâ⬠¦ ââ¬Å"Mom,â⬠I said disbelievingly. ââ¬Å"You know Abe.â⬠She was still touching the scarf, eyes filled with emotion once more-but a different kind than sheââ¬â¢d had for me. ââ¬Å"Yes, Rose. I know him.â⬠ââ¬Å"Please donââ¬â¢t tell meâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Oh, man. Why couldnââ¬â¢t I have been an illegitimate half-royal like Robert Doru? Or even the mail-manââ¬â¢s daughter? ââ¬Å"Please donââ¬â¢t tell me Abe is my fatherâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ She didnââ¬â¢t have to tell me. It was all over her face, her expression dreamily recalling some other time and place-some time and place that had undoubtedly involved my conception. Ugh. ââ¬Å"Oh God,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m Zmeyââ¬â¢s daughter. Zmey Junior. Zmeyette, even.â⬠That got her attention. She looked up at me. ââ¬Å"What on earth are you talking about?â⬠ââ¬Å"Nothing,â⬠I said. I was stunned, trying desperately to assimilate this new piece of data into my worldview. I summoned a picture of that sly, bearded face, trying to hunt down family resemblance. Everyone said my facial features were like my momââ¬â¢s when she was youngerâ⬠¦ but my coloring, the dark hair and eyesâ⬠¦ yes, that was the same as Abeââ¬â¢s. Iââ¬â¢d always known my father was Turkish. That was Abeââ¬â¢s mystery accent, the one not Russian but still foreign to my ears. Ibrahim must be the Turkish version of Abraham. ââ¬Å"How?â⬠I asked. ââ¬Å"How in the world did you get involved with someone like that?â⬠She looked offended. ââ¬Å"Ibrahim is a wonderful man. You donââ¬â¢t know him like I do.â⬠ââ¬Å"Obviously.â⬠I hesitated. ââ¬Å"Momâ⬠¦ you must know. What is it that Abe does for a living?â⬠ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s a businessman. And he knows and does favors for a lot of people, which is why he has the influence he does.â⬠ââ¬Å"But what kind of business? Iââ¬â¢ve heard itââ¬â¢s illegal. Itââ¬â¢s notâ⬠¦ oh God. Please tell me he isnââ¬â¢t selling blood whores or something.â⬠ââ¬Å"What?â⬠She looked shocked. ââ¬Å"No. Of course not.â⬠ââ¬Å"But he is doing illegal things.â⬠ââ¬Å"Whoââ¬â¢s to say? Heââ¬â¢s never actually been caught for anything illegal.â⬠ââ¬Å"I swear, you almost sounded like you were trying to make a joke.â⬠I never would have expected her to defend a criminal, but I knew better than most how love could drive us to crazy acts. ââ¬Å"If he wants to tell you, heââ¬â¢ll tell you. End of story, Rose. Besides, you certainly keep your share of secrets too. You two have a lot in common.â⬠ââ¬Å"Are you kidding? Heââ¬â¢s arrogant, sarcastic, likes to intimidate people, and-oh.â⬠Okay. Maybe she had a point. A small half-smile played upon her lips. ââ¬Å"I never really expected you to meet this way. I never expected you to meet, period. We both thought itââ¬â¢d be best if he wasnââ¬â¢t in your life.â⬠A new thought occurred to me. ââ¬Å"It was you, wasnââ¬â¢t it? You hired him to find me.â⬠ââ¬Å"What? I contacted him when you went missingâ⬠¦ but I certainly didnââ¬â¢t hire him.â⬠ââ¬Å"Then who did?â⬠I wondered. ââ¬Å"He said he was working for someone.â⬠Her lovestruck, reminiscent smile turned wry. ââ¬Å"Rose, Ibrahim Mazur doesnââ¬â¢t work for anyone. Heââ¬â¢s not the kind of person you can hire.â⬠ââ¬Å"But he saidâ⬠¦ wait. Why was he following me? Are you saying he was lying?â⬠ââ¬Å"Well,â⬠she admitted, ââ¬Å"it wouldnââ¬â¢t be the first time. If he was following you, it wasnââ¬â¢t because anyone was making him or paying him. He did it because he wanted to. He wanted to find you and make sure you were okay. He made sure all his contacts knew to look out for you.â⬠I replayed my brief history with Abe. Shadowy, taunting, infuriating. But heââ¬â¢d driven out into the night to get me when Iââ¬â¢d been attacked, been adamant in his goal to get me back to school and safety, and had apparently gifted me with an heirloom because he thought Iââ¬â¢d get cold on my way home. Heââ¬â¢s a wonderful man, my mother had said. I supposed there were worse fathers to have. ââ¬Å"Rose, there you are. Whatââ¬â¢s taking so long?â⬠My mom and I turned as Lissa entered the lobby, her face lighting up when she saw me. ââ¬Å"Come on both of you. The foodââ¬â¢s going to get cold. And you wonââ¬â¢t believe what Adrian got.â⬠My mom and I exchanged a quick look, neither of us needing to speak. We had a long conversation ahead of us, but it would have to wait. I have no idea how Adrian had arranged it, but when we got to the lounge, there was Chinese food set up. The Academy almost never served it, and even then, it just never tastedâ⬠¦ right. But this was the good stuff. Bowls and bowls of sweet-and-sour chicken and egg foo young. In a corner garbage can, I saw some restaurant takeout cartons with an address in Missoula printed on the side. ââ¬Å"How the hell did you get that here?â⬠I demanded. Not only that, it was still warm. ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t question these things, Rose,â⬠said Adrian, loading up his plate with pork fried rice. He seemed very pleased with himself. ââ¬Å"Just roll with it. Once Alberta gets your paperwork settled, weââ¬â¢ll eat like this every day.â⬠I stopped mid-bite. ââ¬Å"How do you know about that?â⬠He merely winked. ââ¬Å"When you have nothing to do but hang out on campus all the time, you kind of pick things up.â⬠Lissa glanced between the two of us. Sheââ¬â¢d been in class all day, and we hadnââ¬â¢t had much time to talk. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s this?â⬠ââ¬Å"Alberta wants me to enroll again and graduate,â⬠I explained. Lissa nearly dropped her plate. ââ¬Å"Then do it!â⬠My mother looked equally startled. ââ¬Å"Sheââ¬â¢ll let you?â⬠ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s what she told me,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Then do it!â⬠my mother exclaimed. ââ¬Å"You know,â⬠mused Adrian, ââ¬Å"I kind of liked the idea of us going on the road together.â⬠ââ¬Å"Whatever,â⬠I shot back. ââ¬Å"You probably wouldnââ¬â¢t let me drive.â⬠ââ¬Å"Stop this.â⬠My mother was firmly back to her old self, no grief over her daughterââ¬â¢s departure or wistfulness for a lost lover. ââ¬Å"You need to take this seriously. Your futureââ¬â¢s at stake.â⬠She nodded toward Lissa. ââ¬Å"Her futureââ¬â¢s at stake. Finishing your education here and going on to be a guardian is the-ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Yes?â⬠she asked, puzzled. I smiled. ââ¬Å"Yes, I agree.â⬠ââ¬Å"You agreeâ⬠¦ with me?â⬠I donââ¬â¢t think my mom could ever recall that happening. Neither could I, for that matter. ââ¬Å"Yup. Iââ¬â¢ll take the trials, graduate, and become as respectable a member of society as I can. Not that it sounds like much fun,â⬠I teased. I kept my tone light, but inside, I knew I needed this. I needed to be back with people who loved me. I needed a new purpose, or else I would never get over Dimitri. I would never stop seeing his face or hearing his voice. Beside me, Lissa gasped and clasped her hands together. Her joy flooded into me. Adrian didnââ¬â¢t wear his emotions as openly, but I could see he too was pleased at having me around. My mom still looked kind of stunned. I think she was used to me being unreasonable-which, usually, I was. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢ll really stay?â⬠she asked. ââ¬Å"Good God.â⬠I laughed. ââ¬Å"How many times do I have to say it? Yes, Iââ¬â¢ll go back to school.â⬠ââ¬Å"And stay?â⬠she prompted. ââ¬Å"The full two and a half months?â⬠ââ¬Å"Isnââ¬â¢t that implied?â⬠Her face was hard-and very mom like. ââ¬Å"I want to know for sure you arenââ¬â¢t going to up and run away again. Youââ¬â¢ll stay and finish school no matter what? Stay until you graduate? Do you promise?â⬠I met her eyes, surprised at her intensity. ââ¬Å"Yes, yes. I promise.â⬠ââ¬Å"Excellent,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢ll be glad you did this down the road.â⬠Her words were guardian-formal, but in her eyes, I saw love and joy. We finished dinner and helped stack dishes for the buildingââ¬â¢s cleaning service. While scraping uneaten food into a trash can, I felt Adrian beside me. ââ¬Å"This is very domestic of you,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s kind of hot, really. Giving me all sorts of fantasies about you in an apron vacuuming my house.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh, Adrian, how Iââ¬â¢ve missed you,â⬠I said with an eye roll. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t suppose youââ¬â¢re helping?â⬠ââ¬Å"Nah. I helped when I ate everything on my plate. No mess that way.â⬠He paused. ââ¬Å"And yes, youââ¬â¢re welcome.â⬠I laughed. ââ¬Å"You know, itââ¬â¢s a good thing you didnââ¬â¢t say much when I promised Mom Iââ¬â¢d stay here. I might have decided otherwise.â⬠ââ¬Å"Not sure if you could have stood up to her. Your mom seems like someone who gets her way a lot.â⬠He cast a covert look to where Lissa and my mom stood talking across the room. He lowered his voice. ââ¬Å"It must run in the family. In fact, maybe I should get her help on something.â⬠ââ¬Å"Getting a hold of illegal cigarettes?â⬠ââ¬Å"Asking her daughter out.â⬠I nearly dropped the plate I held. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢ve asked me out tons of times.â⬠ââ¬Å"Not really. Iââ¬â¢ve made inappropriate suggestions and frequently pushed for nudity. But Iââ¬â¢ve never asked you out on a real date. And, if memory serves, you did say youââ¬â¢d give me a fair chance once I let you clean out my trust fund.â⬠ââ¬Å"I didnââ¬â¢t clean it out,â⬠I scoffed. But standing there, looking at him, I remembered that I had said that if I survived my quest for Dimitri, Iââ¬â¢d give Adrian a shot. I would have said anything to get the money I needed then, but now, I saw Adrian through new eyes. I wasnââ¬â¢t ready to marry him by any stretch of the imagination, nor did I fully consider him reliable boyfriend material. I didnââ¬â¢t even know if I wanted a boyfriend ever. But he had been a good friend to me and everyone else throughout all of this chaos. Heââ¬â¢d been kind and steady, and yeah, I couldnââ¬â¢t deny itâ⬠¦ even with a fading black eye, he was still extraordinarily handsome. And while it shouldnââ¬â¢t have mattered, Lissa had gotten it out from him that a lot of his infatuation with Avery had been compulsion-induced. Heââ¬â¢d liked her and hadnââ¬â¢t been ruling out a romantic attachment, but her powers had cranked up the intensity more than he actually felt. Or so he claimed. If I were a guy and all that had happened to me, Iââ¬â¢d probably say Iââ¬â¢d been under the influence of magic too. Yet from the way he looked at me now, I found it hard to believe anyone had taken my place for him in this last month or so. ââ¬Å"Make me an offer,â⬠I said at last. ââ¬Å"Write it up, and give me a point-by-point outline of why youââ¬â¢re a good would-be suitor.â⬠He started to laugh, then saw my face. ââ¬Å"Seriously? Thatââ¬â¢s like homework. Thereââ¬â¢s a reason Iââ¬â¢m not in college.â⬠I snapped my fingers. ââ¬Å"Get to it, Ivashkov. I want to see you put in a good dayââ¬â¢s work.â⬠I expected a joke or a brush-off until later, but instead, he said, ââ¬Å"Okay.â⬠ââ¬Å"Okay?â⬠Now I felt like my mom had earlier, when Iââ¬â¢d quickly agreed with her. ââ¬Å"Yep. Iââ¬â¢m going to go back to my room right now to start drafting my assignment.â⬠I stared incredulously as he reached for his coat. I had never seen Adrian move that fast when any kind of labor was involved. Oh no. What had I gotten myself into? He suddenly paused and reached into his coat pocket with an exasperated smile. ââ¬Å"Actually, I already practically wrote you an essay. Nearly forgot.â⬠He produced a piece of folded paper and waved it in the air. ââ¬Å"You have got to get your own phone. Iââ¬â¢m not going to be your secretary anymore.â⬠ââ¬Å"What is that?â⬠ââ¬Å"Some foreign guy called me earlierâ⬠¦ said my number was in his phoneââ¬â¢s memory.â⬠Again, Adrian eyed Lissa and my mom. They were still deep in conversation. ââ¬Å"He said he had a message for you and didnââ¬â¢t want me to tell anyone else. He made me write it out and read it back to him. Youââ¬â¢re the only person Iââ¬â¢d do that for, you know. I think Iââ¬â¢m going to mention it when I write up my dating proposal.â⬠ââ¬Å"Will you just hand it over?â⬠He gave me the note with a wink, sketched me a bow, and then said goodbye to Lissa and my mom. I kind of wondered if he really was going to go write up a dating proposal. Mostly, my attention was on the note. I had no doubt who had called him. Iââ¬â¢d used Abeââ¬â¢s phone to dial Adrian in Novosibirsk and had later told Abe about Adrianââ¬â¢s financial involvement in my trip. Apparently, my father-ugh, that was still an unreal thought-had decided that made Adrian trustworthy, though I wondered why my mom couldnââ¬â¢t have been used as a messenger. I unfolded the note, and it took me a few seconds to decipher Adrianââ¬â¢s writing. If he did write me a dating proposal, I really hoped he would type it. The note read: Sent a message to Robertââ¬â¢s brother. He told me there was nothing I could offer that would make him reveal Robertââ¬â¢s location-and believe me, I have much to offer. But he said as long as he had to spend the rest of his life in there, then the information would die with him. Thought youââ¬â¢d like to know. It was hardly the essay Adrian had made it out to be. It was also a bit cryptic, but then, Abe wouldnââ¬â¢t want its contents easily understandable to Adrian. To me, the meaning was clear. Robertââ¬â¢s brother was Victor Dashkov. Abe had somehow gotten a message to Victor in whatever horrible, remote prison he was locked away in. (Somehow, it didnââ¬â¢t surprise me that Abe could pull that off.) Abe had no doubt attempted one of his trades with Victor in order to find out where Robert was, but Victor had refused. No surprise there either. Victor wasnââ¬â¢t the most helpful of people, and I couldnââ¬â¢t entirely blame him now. The guy was locked up for life ââ¬Å"in thereâ⬠-in prison. What could anyone offer a condemned man that would really make a difference in his life? I sighed and put the note away, somehow touched that Abe had done this for me, as futile as it was. And again, the same argument came to mind. Even if Victor had given up Robertââ¬â¢s location, what did it matter? The farther I got from the events in Russia, the more ridiculous it became to even consider turning a Strigoi back to his original form. Only true death could free them, only deathâ⬠¦ My momââ¬â¢s voice saved me before I could begin reliving the bridge scene once more in my head. She told me she had to leave but promised weââ¬â¢d talk later. As soon as she was gone, Lissa and I made sure everything was set in the lounge before heading off to my room. She and I still had a lot of talking to do too. We went upstairs, and I wondered when theyââ¬â¢d move me out of guest housing and back to the dorm. Probably whenever Alberta finished with the red tape. It still seemed impossible to accept that I was going to be able to return to my old life and move on from all that had happened in the last month or so. ââ¬Å"Did Adrian give you a love note?â⬠Lissa asked me. Her voice was teasing, but through the bond, I knew she still worried about me grieving for Dimitri. ââ¬Å"Not yet,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll explain later.â⬠Outside my room, one of the building attendants was just about to knock on the door. When she saw me, she held out a thick padded envelope. ââ¬Å"I was just bringing this to you. It arrived in todayââ¬â¢s mail.â⬠ââ¬Å"Thanks,â⬠I said. I took it from her and looked at it. My name and St. Vladimirââ¬â¢s address were printed in neat writing, which I found odd, since my arrival here had been sudden. There was no return address, but it bore Russian postmarks and delivery through global overnight mail. ââ¬Å"Do you know who itââ¬â¢s from?â⬠Lissa asked once the woman was gone. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know. I met a lot of people in Russia.â⬠It could have been from Olena, Mark, or Sydney. Yetâ⬠¦ something I couldnââ¬â¢t quite explain set my senses on high alert. I tore open one side and reached in. My hand closed around something cold and metallic. I knew before I even pulled it out what it was. It was a silver stake. ââ¬Å"Oh God,â⬠I said I rolled the stake around, running my finger over the engraved geometric pattern at its base. There was no question. One-of-a-kind. This was the stake Iââ¬â¢d taken from the vault in Galinaââ¬â¢s house. The one Iââ¬â¢d ââ¬Å"Why would someone send you a stake?â⬠asked Lissa. I didnââ¬â¢t answer and instead pulled out the envelopeââ¬â¢s next item: a small note card. There, in handwriting I knew all too well, was: You forgot another lesson: Never turn your back until you know your enemy is dead. Looks like weââ¬â¢ll have to go over the lesson again the next time I see you-which will be soon. Love, D. ââ¬Å"Oh,â⬠I said, nearly dropping the card. ââ¬Å"This is not good.â⬠The world spun for a moment, and I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. For the hundredth time, I ran through the events of the night Iââ¬â¢d escaped from Dimitri. Every other time, my emotions and attention were always on the look on his face when I stabbed him, the sight of his body falling into that black water. Now my mind summoned up the details of the struggle. I recalled how his last-minute dodge had interfered with my shot at his heart. For a moment out there, I hadnââ¬â¢t thought Iââ¬â¢d gotten the stake in hard enough-until Iââ¬â¢d seen his face go slack and watched him fall. But I really hadnââ¬â¢t gotten the stake in hard enough. My first instinct had been right, but things had happened too fast. Heââ¬â¢d fallenâ⬠¦ and then what? Had the stake been loose enough to fall out on its own? Had he been able to pull it out? Had the riverââ¬â¢s impact knocked it out? ââ¬Å"All those practice dummies, all for nothing,â⬠I muttered, recalling how Dimitri had drilled me over and over to plunge a stake into the chest so it would get past the ribs and into the heart. ââ¬Å"Rose,â⬠exclaimed Lissa. I had a feeling this wasnââ¬â¢t the first time sheââ¬â¢d said my name. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s going on?â⬠The most important staking of my lifeâ⬠¦ and I had messed it up. What would happen now? Looks like weââ¬â¢ll have to go over the lesson again the next time I see you-which will be soon. I didnââ¬â¢t know what to feel. Despair that I hadnââ¬â¢t released Dimitriââ¬â¢s soul and fulfilled the promise Iââ¬â¢d secretly made to him? Relief that I hadnââ¬â¢t killed the man I loved? And always, always that question: Would he have said he loved me if weââ¬â¢d had a few moments more? I still had no answers. My emotions were running crazy, and I needed to put them on hold and analyze what I knew here. First: two and a half months. Iââ¬â¢d promised my mom two and a half months. No action until then. Meanwhile, Dimitri was still out there, still a Strigoi. As long as he was loose in the world, there would be no peace for me. No closure. Looking at that card again, I realized I would have no peace even if I tried to ignore him. I understood the cardââ¬â¢s message. Dimitri was coming for me this time. And something told me that I had blown my chance at being turned Strigoi. He was coming to kill me. What had he said when I escaped the manor? That there was no way we could both be alive in the world? And yet, maybe we couldâ⬠¦ When I didnââ¬â¢t answer her right away, Lissaââ¬â¢s worry grew. ââ¬Å"Your face is freaking me out a little. What are you thinking?â⬠ââ¬Å"Do you believe in fairy tales?â⬠I asked, looking up into her eyes. Even as I said the words, I could imagine Markââ¬â¢s disapproval. ââ¬Å"Whatâ⬠¦ what kind of fairy tales?â⬠ââ¬Å"The kind you arenââ¬â¢t supposed to waste your life on.â⬠ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t understand,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m totally lost. Tell me whatââ¬â¢s going on. What can I do?â⬠Two and a half months. I had to stay here for two and a half months-it seemed like forever. But Iââ¬â¢d promised my mom that I would, and I refused to be rash again-particularly with the stakes so high now. Promises. I was drowning in promises. Iââ¬â¢d even promised Lissa something. ââ¬Å"Did you mean it before? You want to go with me on my next crazy quest? No matter what?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes.â⬠There was no uncertainty or hesitation in the word, no wavering in her steady green eyes. Of course, I wondered if sheââ¬â¢d feel the same way later when she found out what it was we were going to do. What could anyone offer a condemned man that would really make a difference in his life? Iââ¬â¢d pondered that earlier, trying to figure out what could get Victor Dashkov to talk. Victor had told Abe there was nothing anyone could offer that would make him give up the information about his brotherââ¬â¢s alleged ability to restore Strigoi. Victor was serving a life sentence; no bribe could matter to him anymore. But one thing could, I realized. Freedom. And there was only one way to achieve that. We were going to have to break Victor Dashkov out of prison. But I decided not to mention that to Lissa quite yet. All I knew for now was that I had a fleeting shot at saving Dimitri. Mark had said it was a fairy tale, but I had to take the chance. The question was: how long did I have until Dimitri came to kill me? How long did I have to figure out if the impossible was actually possible? That was the real issue. Because if Dimitri showed up before I had a chance to find the dragon in this story-Victor-things were going to get ugly. Maybe this whole Robert thing was one big lie, but even if it wasnââ¬â¢tâ⬠¦ well, the clock was ticking. If Dimitri came for me before I could get to Victor and Robert, Iââ¬â¢d have to fight him again. No question. I couldnââ¬â¢t wait for this magical cure. Iââ¬â¢d have to kill Dimitri for real this time and lose any chance I might have to bring back my prince. Damn. Itââ¬â¢s a good thing I work well under pressure. How to cite Blood Promise Chapter Thirty, Essay examples
Saturday, May 2, 2020
The Tragic Story of Electra free essay sample
A comparison between Sophocles and Euripides plays on Electras tragic story. This paper discusses the tragic story of Electra, but at the same time, illustrates the nature of courage, honor and loyalty despite the tragedy. The author compares two version of this play, those by Sophocles and Euripides, emphasizing how these plays are similar to each other as well as diverge from one another. The part of Electra in this version of the play is an ideal one to play for any ambitious actress, for the character is called upon to feel and display every human emotion passion and joy, hatred and despair. In the end she is the avenged heroine, but Sophocles has left a certain ambiguity about how we should interpret her character (although perhaps this ambiguity would not have been apparent to classical audiences). Has Electra in the end been freed from her lifelong desire for revenge? Or has she become so distorted by years of hatred that she can never be whole again? The term tragedy is often used in a loose sense to describe any sad event, but as a term in the theater it should be properly applied only to such works as we have been discussing here dramatic treatments that ask us to consider with the highest degree of seriousness the nature of heroism, of misery, of loss, of endurance and also of joy and the possibility of happiness after sorrow. We will write a custom essay sample on The Tragic Story of Electra or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page
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