Behaviours in English as a Second Language Learner

Behaviours in English as a Second Language Learner Hamayan et al. (2013) emphasize the importance of describing in details the actual behaviors displayed by ELL students before diagnosing and drawing conclusions about the causes of the ELLs difficulties and academic weaknesses. The authors contend that the first step of the ECOS diversity framework that needs to be taken, is to describe students observable behavior as specifically as possible without attributing the behavior to a specific cause (p. 36). This requires collecting work samples and sufficient accurate data, instead of drawing generalized statements based on the teachers perceptions or assumptions about a child. The authors explain that the language difficulties that ELLs experience are embedded in the process of learning English, and they are similar to the difficulties demonstrated by students with diagnosed learning disabilities, for example, forgetting words, language disfluencies, difficulty following oral directions, or distraction in an academic English setting. Wh en garnering the data, educators should obtain this information across different times, settings, and by different methods so that it can be examined, compared and contrasted. Another step of the process of the ECOS diversity framework is to explain the observed behaviors through the lenses of any of the seven integral factors described on page 44. Hamayan et al. (2013) explain that finding explanations for ELLs less than optimal performance in school begins by considering the seven extrinsic factors during the explanatory phase of the process before assuming the existence of intrinsic causes due to a disability (p. 44). Discussing possible explanations will be beneficial to not only members of the ECOS team, but first and foremost to the ELL student. During exploring diverse explanations educators learn from one another about different perspectives, cultural experiences, and areas of expertise. They also have an opportunity to clarify what they mean when using certain words or expressions. Finally, the explanation process may result in findings which will not affect future ELLs placement negatively. It is important to know that even though the disability is present, an ELL should still be supported with ELL services which will meet his/her language needs and maximize the academic achievement. Determining if an ELL students struggles with academic learning are due to language acquisition or a learning disability may be without doubt a challenging task requiring the experience, knowledge about the world, cultural awareness, and professional expertise. Most assessments of ELLs are done mainly in English, therefore the results may be interpreted incorrectly. Moreover, limiting a student to using only one language will hinder a more accurate picture of ELL skills and abilities. Educators seem to have a tendency to rather choose a disability than identify their own bias, lack of knowledge, or procedural errors. There are also many misconceptions about bilingualism, which affect the decisions made about the ELLs. Therefore, it is critical that educators understand the process of the second language acquisition, as well as are able to recognize possible characteristics associated with students with learning disabilities. They should also ask themselves if an ELLs culture may be t he possible explanation for the specific difficulties. In fact, there may be multiple possible reasons for students to exhibit a specific behavior. It truly takes a great amount of knowledge, understanding, humility and sensitivity to cease to guard against this tendency for intrinsic explanations, and stretch ones thinking in order to better serve English language learners. I truly like Hamayan et al. (2013) text because it provides concrete examples of probing questions, potential challenges that ELLs may demonstrate as well as possible explanations from different perspectives for typical language and academic difficulties experienced by ELLs. The article is an eye-opener, and it lays the foundations to how deep and extensive the process of diagnosing should be. I am certain, I will reach for this text, or even will buy a book in order to help me become a more reflective, better practitioner. The more knowledgeable I will become, the more successful my students will be. References Hamayan, Marler, Sanchez-Lopez, Damico (2013), Describing Before Diagnosing: Observation of Specific Behaviors That ELLs May Exhibit, Chapter 3 of Special Education Considerations for English language Learners. Philadelphia, PA: Carlson Publishing.

Differences between Macro and Micro sociology

Differences between Macro and Micro sociology Explain the differences between Macro and Micro sociology. Identify some of the key sociological approaches in both areas. Which do you think is more useful for studying society and why? Giddens (1989) defines sociology in the following way: Sociology is the study of human social life, groups and societies. It is a dazzling and compelling enterprise, having as its subject matter our own behaviour as social beings. The scope of sociology is extremely wide, ranging from the analysis of passing encounters between individuals in the street up to the investigation of world-wide social processes. Sociology is a significant subject so it is almost impossible to know all its aspect, it is only possible to learn how to apply sociological imagination , that is why all the sociological  theories may be broadly  divided into macro and  micro approaches, which will be deeper discussed and considered from each angle in this essay. Macro sociology studies social structures, communities, big social groups, layers, systems and processes that occur in them. The social community such as civilization is the main objective of macro sociology. It is not focused on detailed analysis of certain problems and situations; its target is a complex understanding of the issue. Macro sociological approach to phenomena is associated with the social world systems and its interaction with different types of culture, social institutions (complex social forms), social structures and global processes. Mainly macro sociology concentrates on the models of behavior that help to understand society as a whole. The main concepts of macro sociology are: society, culture, social institutions, social system, structure and also global social processes. Macro sociologists argue that society is in a more priority than individual as his behavior is formed by society he was born and brought up in. Macro sociology includes several important sociolo gical perspectives such as: functionalism that focuses on relationship between the parts of society and how aspects of society are functional and Conflict Theory which main focus is competition for scarce resources and how the elite control the poor and weak. Micro sociology  is one of the main branches of  sociology, examining the nature of everyday human  social interactions  and  agency  on a small scale. Micro sociology is based on interpretative analysis rather than statistical or empirical observation. It includes a theory of Symbolic interactionism that focuses on the use of symbols and face-to-face interactions. Micro sociology appeared in the late 30s of this century and had another name sociometry. This term is associated with Jacob L. Moreno, who was a  Jewish  Romanian-born  Austrian-American  leading  psychiatrist, sociologist, thinker and  educator. During his lifetime, he was recognized as one of the leading social scientists. Sociometry has got very original research methods, which are widely used as  a general scientific  tool  in  various  social  studies. For Moreno three the most important concepts of the sociometry were: socius companion, metrum measurement and drama action. Mor eno (1948) defines sociometry as the inquiry into the evolution and organization of groups and the position of individuals within them.  For  Moreno  and  other  representatives of  sociometry the main  object of  research  is an existing small  social groups and the most  important,  what  characterizes these social groups is  the peoples emotional  relationship  with each other that is  forming  an atomistic  structure of  society. Simple  observations are not  able to  capture these  relationships,  but  they can  be  identified by  using specific  measurement methods,  particularly survey  techniques  and processing of data. For example: sociometric tests, sociomatrices and sociograms. This  technique allows  detecting the  actual  situations of conflict  and  efforts  to eliminate them. The creation of sociometry has importantly contributed to the sociology and is considered to be one of the most si gnificant achievements of sociology as a science for the entire period of its existence.  The introduction of quantitative methods in sociology considerably transformed it and allowed to study with unprecedented accuracy.  One of the most significant consequences of creation of the micro sociology has become the increase of interest and opportunities for social research in the study of various problems of human existence with the use of quantative methods and modern computer technologies. Functionalists mainly  focus on the  macrostructures  of society,  but representatives  of symbolic  interactionism  are usually  more concerned about micro aspects  of social life. Also they argue that micro sociology is more useful for studying society. For instance  John  H.Mead and  H.  Blumer  studied the  social  interaction  of individuals  and  speculated  how  they manage to  coordinate their actions with each other. The Representatives of symbolic interactionism emphasize the fact that people are social beings.  However, in comparison with ants, bees, termites and other insects, that are leading a social life, people almost do not have any inherent models of behavior that connect us with each other. Consequently,  if people have essentially no inherent nature of the mechanisms of social behaviuor it is not clear how society can be created.  Representatives of symbolic interactionism find the answer in the ability of people to communicate through the symbols. Geogre Herbert Meed (1863-1931) and other representatives of symbolic interactionism state that we perform an act by conforming to the meaning we put in it. Generally Blumer states that the meaning is not something initially related to the things, on the contrary, it is characteristic which emerges from the interaction between people in their everyday life. In other  words, social  reality  is created  by people  when they  act  in this  world and  interpret  events  occurring in  it. Nietzsches 1880s notebooks repeatedly state that there are no facts, only interpretations. We  choose the  facts  from the  universal  context  by  the activity  of our  brain , and  because of that all  the facts  are the creations  of a man.  Accordingly, representatives of  symbolic  interactionism  believe  that  we perceive the world  as  constructed  reality. All  this leads  representatives  of symbolic interactionism  to the conclusion  that  if  sociologists  want to  study the  life  of society, they must first understand the  words  and actions of  members of  this society,  taking  their  point  of view.  This  theory  was largely  influenced by  Weberian  concept  of understanding  (Verstehen) or empathetic understanding. This gives an opportunity to the sociologists to mentally put themselves into the other persons shoes and thus obtain an interpretive understanding of the meanings of individuals behaviours. To conclude, the advantage  of this approach  is that  it  introduces the  people in the  panorama of  sociological research.  It  pays  attention  to  the activities  of individuals  in  their  daily  lives and  sees that the  people  are not robots that mechanically carry out the orders of social rules and institutional norms  but beings that are  living  their  lives  and have got and ability to  think. Through interaction, they operate on symbols and meanings à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹that enable them to interpret the situation, assess the advantages and disadvantages of certain actions and then choose one of them.  Thus, representatives of symbolic interactionism suggest the image of a man as an individual, actively shaping his behavior, rather than passively reacting to external dictates of structural limitations.

The Perils of Obedience by Stanley Milgram Essay -- Stanley Milgram T

â€Å"The Perils of Obedience† was written by Stanley Milgram in 1974. In the essay he describes his experiments on obedience to authority. I feel as though this is a great psychology essay and will be used in psychology 101 classes for generations to come. The essay describes how people are willing to do almost anything that they are told no matter how immoral the action is or how much pain it may cause.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This essay even though it was written in 1974 is still used today because of its historical importance. The experiment attempts to figure out why the Nazi’s followed Hitler. Even though what he told them to do was morally wrong and they did it anyway. If this essay can help figure out why Hitler was able to do what he was then able to do, then maybe psychologists can figure out how to prevent something like that from happening again.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The Perils of Obedience† is about an experiment that was made to test the obedience of ordinary people. There are two people who come and perform in the lab, one is the subject or the teacher and the other is an actor or the learner. The teacher doesn’t know that the learner is an actor. They are there to see how far someone would go on causing someone pain just because they were told to do so the authority figure. The learner is given a list of word pairs and has to memorize them. Then he has to remember the second word of the pair when he hears the first word. If he is incorrect the â€Å"teacher† will shock him until he gets it rig...

Bosnia and Serbia :: history

Bosnia and Serbia Historically and politically, the Bosnians and the Russians are a perfect match.This history started in the middle of the first thousand years A.D. when the tribes called the Southern Slavs migrated into the southeast area of Europe known as the Balkans. The Slav people as they are known, were separated from the Northern Slavs, that is, related Slavs in Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Russia, by the non-slavic tribes that settled the lands of Austria and Hungary. The Bosnians original ancestors were the Southern Slavs. They raided areas throught the Balkans including what is now modern day Serbia.This tribe eventually split up, mostly for religious and political reasons but also because the geography of the region is such that large groups of Slavs became separated and isolated from one another because of the difficult terrain. When religion came to the Balkans, where you were physically had as much to do with what religion you grew up with as other reasons. The Serbs who were closest to the Byzantine Empire geographically, took up the Eastern Orthodox Religion. The peoples in what is now Croatia, Slovinia and Bosina were infuenced by Rome and took up Roman Catholicisim. However, the Bosnians, who were alwasys being threathned politically by the Orthodox Christian Serbs as well as their Roman Catholic neighbors, by the fifteenth century had made apolitical decision to align themselves with the rising power of the Ottoman Empire, and converted to Islam. Russia, the country where most of the Southern Slavs came from had accepted the Eastern Orthodox religion at around the time the Serbs did. This religious bond between Russians and Serbs was very strong and the two groups supported one another for virtually their entire history up to and including modern times. The Serbs supported the Russians in almost all their wars and helped the Russians gain control of part of the Eastern Mediterraen from the Turks. This is why the Russians are deeply interested in this area and feel they have a special role to play in the current conflict. The Balkans are the reason that World War I had started. The Serbs of 1914 was as determined then, as they were for centuries, of preserving their independence in the Balkans. A wider war in the Balkans could risk the security of Europe, and possibly draw Moslen nations into the war. On a more imeadiate level, the reason for peace in

The Superstring Mystery -- Theory Of Everything? :: essays research papers fc

In 1979 two scientists met at The Center for Nuclear Research (CERN). These men's names are Michael Green and John Schwarz. John Schwarz had been working on the Theory of Superstrings/ Theory of Everything. Michael Green the younger of the two men was studying all research that he could get his hands on, and was fascinated by the Theory. John Schwarz who had been tired of the Theory of Superstrings and the Theory of Everything in 1974 saw a new passion and new data that would be the fuel for Michael and his own research. Very few other scientists wanted to become involved in the Theories and left the Theories to the two men. Green and Schwarz found this perfectly acceptable, because they would now be receiving all credit for their work. The Old Paradigm is that the universe is made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons. The New Paradigm states that the universe is not made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons but rather tiny Superstrings that vibrate at specific frequencies. ( Like a guitar string.) Using complicated formula's such as E8 X E8 divides in two, in the Big Bang and creates two identical universes E8 and E8 shadow, this allows the theory to explain the four forces of nature, and it even indicates a universe of "shadow matter" that exists in a parallel to our own. The theory also suggests that our universe evolved out of a higher dimensional space during the first instances of the Big Bang. What this means is that during the Big Bang there was an escape of particles and a whole lot of other stuff that created our universe. This 'Stuff' that escaped from the 'bag' was only half of the equation. This acting like twins, or as called earlier a parallel universe that in theory is the same as our own. Evident resistance to the Superstring and Theory of Everything is the fact that the money needed to build a machine (Relativistic Klystron Two Beam Accelerator) that will be able to produce enough energy as at the beginning of creation is near impossible. The coming of a machine as the RK/TBA may present the last thinkable experiment of this sort carried out by scientists. The faith that physicists have that the goal is within reach, is only based on the beauty of their Superstrings Theories. Should the building of the RK/TBA succeed in producing the energies the scientists are intending it to, then it will be decided whether the physicists will find; everything or nothing. The greatest impact that The Superstring Theories will have on society as a

Ethical Egoism as Moral Theory

Thesis: Without a distinct framework, ethical egoism fails as a moral theory to assist moral decision making because it endorses the animalistic nature of humanity, fails to provide a viable solution to a conflict of interest, and is proved to be an evolutionary unstable moral strategy. Outline: Ethical egoism claims that all our actions can be reduced to self-interest. This is a controversial moral theory which sometimes can be detrimental.Without a well-defined framework of the nature of self-interest, ethical egoism enlarges the animalistic nature of humanity in which can result in unfavorable consequences. Ethical egoism also fails to provide a solution when a conflict of interest arises. By only acting out of one’s self interest, ethical egoism also deems to be an evolutionary unstable moral theory. Ethical Egoism As a Moral Theory Identifying fundamental principles about ethics and morality has always been a major concern across humanity as a whole.Many are familiar with statements like those of ‘common sense morality’ and utilitarianism, but perhaps among the most controversial of these statements is ethical egoism. Ethical egoism is a normative theory on how we ought to behave, that we have no moral duty except to do what is best for ourselves. It advocates morality based on self-interest. In Rachels’ Ethical Egoism, the author proposes different arguments in favor and against ethical egoism as a moral theory but only come to a conclusion that ethical egoism is â€Å"unacceptably arbitrary† and fails to treat everyone equally.Without a distinct framework, ethical egoism fails as a moral theory to assist moral decision making because it endorses the animalistic nature of humanity, fails to provide a viable solution to a conflict of interest, and is proved to be an evolutionary unstable moral strategy. Ethical egoism does not provide a moral basis for the nature of self-interest or solving conflicts between people. An eth ical theory should set forth a ground such that it can constitute for a principle of morality. We should be able to agree that this theory of ethics is moral and has moral principles.However, in the case of ethical egoism, it advocates that all men ought to act from their self-interest but does not clearly state the nature of the ‘self-interest’. For all we know, when one acts out of his/her self-interest, it can very well be something that is morally incorrect. Does the theory still hold when a rapist raped a girl and think it is in his best interest to kill the girl so he won’t get caught? On a certain level, ethical egoism does not only fail to take into account the nature of ‘self-interest’ but also endorse wrong-doings and mischievousness.In Haidt’s The Felicity of Virtue, the author claims that philosophers like Plato and Kant believe that human beings have a dual nature: part animal and part rational. The animal part follows the law of nature where there is â€Å"no morality† and only causality whereas the rational part â€Å"respect rules of conduct, and so people can be judged morally for the degree to which they respect the right rules† (Haidt, 162). This animal nature illustrates exactly how ethical egoism can endorse selfishness because ethical egoism resides on the animalistic human nature and does not recommend the rational part of human beings.Without a solid ground for moral basis and taking account into rational nature of morality, ethical theory fails to constitute as a moral theory. Ethical theory fails to provide a solution when there is a conflict of interest. A moral theory is a system which we determine the right and wrong conduct, and how we ought to behave in a certain way, however, ethical egoism doesn’t fulfill its duty as a moral theory. Ethical egoism claims that all our actions can be reduced to self-interest and acting against it is immoral.On a larger level, ethical eg oism is subjective and in a way somewhat solipsistic. It doesn’t contemplate other’s feelings but our own. If my neighbor is abusing their child everyday, but the act itself does not affect me or do me any harm or good, so according to ethical egoism, it is not in my best interest to interfere. The theory is stated such that each man believes everyone should act out of their best interest, however; it might not be in one’s self interest to have everyone act from the perspective of their self-interests.In fact, Plato used the example of Gyges’ Ring to illustrate that when â€Å"one thinks that he can safely be unjust, there he is unjust, for any men believe in their hearts that injustice is far more profitable to the individual than justice† (Plato, 547). If a starving child and a naughty child both find a candy on the street, it is in both their interest to fight for the candy because eating the candy make them both happy. In this case, who should have the candy?Philosopher Plato’s brother, Glaucon actually hypothesized that egotistic power seeking might be the ‘ideal state of existence’ but quickly refuted because others might seek the same power, â€Å"which would interfere with our freedom and cause a state of chaos in which no one was likely to have any desire fulfilled† (Plato, 545). Plato eventually concludes that we should choose the life of the just even though maybe unfortunate because it is the moral thing to do. Without providing a fundamental principle of what is â€Å"the right thing to do†, ethical egoism fails to provide a solution when there is a conflict of interest.Ethical egoism is an â€Å"evolutionary unstable strategy† according to the Law of Jungles. Ethical egoism proposes that each person ought always to pursue his or her own self-interest exclusively. This idea of self-interest based morality is very much similar to the â€Å"Cheats† mentioned in J. L M ackie’s The Law of Jungles. The author claims that if the population only consists of cheats and suckers, then the Cheats will eventually wipe out the Suckers because Cheats only receive grooming but not vice versa out of their own interest. However, if put together with Grudgers, the Cheats will eventually die out because they are evolutionary unstable.Mackie claims in his piece that â€Å"this strategy is not only evolutionarily stable within a population, it is also viable for a population as a whole† (Mackie, 563). It can be mirrored in our case of ethical egoism that in the modern society, if one acts as a Cheat and acts only out of his or her own best interest, it might lead to unfavorable consequences. By supporting only individual’s self interest, ethical egoism does not serve as an evolutionary stable moral theory. Ethical Egoism has always served as controversial for its advocacy of a self-interest based morality.Many statements disagree with it such a s the virtue hypothesis states when â€Å"morality is reduced to the opposite of self-interest†, acting against your self-interest is in your self-interest (Haidt, 164). Although ethical egoism accounts for our selfish and animalistic nature, it fails to provide a framework of the nature of self-interest and what is the right thing to do when a conflict of interest arises. Ethical egoism also proves to be an evolutionary unstable strategy when put in the evolutionary prospective. Without a viable framework, ethical egoism does not constitute as a moral theory.

Vampire Academy Chapter 1

ONE I FELT HER FEAR BEFORE I heard her screams. Her nightmare pulsed into me, shaking me out of my own dream, which had had something to do with a beach and some hot guy rubbing suntan oil on me. Images – hers, not mine – tumbled through my mind: fire and blood, the smell of smoke, the twisted metal of a car. The pictures wrapped around me, suffocating me, until some rational part of my brain reminded me that this wasn't my dream. I woke up, strands of long, dark hair sticking to my forehead. Lissa lay in her bed, thrashing and screaming. I bolted out of mine, quickly crossing the few feet that separated us. â€Å"Liss,† I said, shaking her. â€Å"Liss, wake up.† Her screams dropped off, replaced by soft whimpers. â€Å"Andre,† she moaned. â€Å"Oh God.† I helped her sit up. â€Å"Liss, you aren't there anymore. Wake up.† After a few moments, her eyes fluttered open, and in the dim lighting, I could see a flicker of consciousness start to take over. Her frantic breathing slowed, and she leaned into me, resting her head against my shoulder. I put an arm around her and ran a hand over her hair. â€Å"It's okay,† I told her gently. â€Å"Everything's okay.† â€Å"I had that dream.† â€Å"Yeah. I know.† We sat like that for several minutes, not saying anything else. When I felt her emotions calm down, I leaned over to the nightstand between our beds and turned on the lamp. It glowed dimly, but neither of us really needed much to see by. Attracted by the light, our housemate's cat, Oscar, leapt up onto the sill of the open window. He gave me a wide berth – animals don't like dhampirs, for whatever reason – but jumped onto the bed and rubbed his head against Lissa, purring softly. Animals didn't have a problem with Moroi, and they all loved Lissa in particular. Smiling, she scratched his chin, and I felt her calm further. â€Å"When did we last do a feeding?† I asked, studying her face. Her fair skin was paler than usual. Dark circles hung under her eyes, and there was an air of frailty about her. School had been hectic this week, and I couldn't remember the last time I'd given her blood. â€Å"It's been like? ­more than two days, hasn't it? Three? Why didn't you say anything?† She shrugged and wouldn't meet my eyes. â€Å"You were busy. I didn't want to – â€Å" â€Å"Screw that,† I said, shifting into a better position. No wonder she seemed so weak. Oscar, not wanting me any closer, leapt down and returned to the window, where he could watch at a safe distance. â€Å"Come on. Let's do this.† â€Å"Rose – â€Å" â€Å"Come on. It'll make you feel better.† I tilted my head and tossed my hair back, baring my neck. I saw her hesitate, but the sight of my neck and what it offered proved too powerful. A hungry expression crossed her face, and her lips parted slightly, exposing the fangs she normally kept hidden while living among humans. Those fangs contrasted oddly with the rest of her features. With her pretty face and pale blond hair, she looked more like an angel than a vampire. As her teeth neared my bare skin, I felt my heart race with a mix of fear and anticipation. I always hated feeling the latter, but it was nothing I could help, a weakness I couldn't shake. Her fangs bit into me, hard, and I cried out at the brief flare of pain. Then it faded, replaced by a wonderful, golden joy that spread through my body. It was better than any of the times I'd been drunk or high. Better than sex – or so I imagined, since I'd never done it. It was a blanket of pure, refined pleasure, wrapping me up and promising everything would be right in the world. On and on it went. The chemicals in her saliva triggered an endorphin rush, and I lost track of the world, lost track of who I was. Then, regretfully, it was over. It had taken less than a minute. She pulled back, wiping her hand across her lips as she studied me. â€Å"You okay?† â€Å"I? ­yeah.† I lay back on the bed, dizzy from the blood loss. â€Å"I just need to sleep it off. I'm fine.† Her pale, jade-green eyes watched me with concern. She stood up. â€Å"I'm going to get you something to eat.† My protests came awkwardly to my lips, and she left before I could get out a sentence. The buzz from her bite had lessened as soon as she broke the connection, but some of it still lingered in my veins, and I felt a goofy smile cross my lips. Turning my head, I glanced up at Oscar, still sitting in the window. â€Å"You don't know what you're missing,† I told him. His attention was on something outside. Hunkering down into a crouch, he puffed out his jet-black fur. His tail started twitching. My smile faded, and I forced myself to sit up. The world spun, and I waited for it to right itself before trying to stand. When I managed it, the dizziness set in again and this time refused to leave. Still, I felt okay enough to stumble to the window and peer out with Oscar. He eyed me warily, scooted over a little, and then returned to whatever had held his attention. A warm breeze – unseasonably warm for a Portland fall – played with my hair as I leaned out. The street was dark and relatively quiet. It was three in the morning, just about the only time a college campus settled down, at least somewhat. The house in which we'd rented a room for the past eight months sat on a residential street with old, mismatched houses. Across the road, a streetlight flickered, nearly ready to burn out. It still cast enough light for me to make out the shapes of cars and buildings. In our own yard, I could see the silhouettes of trees and bushes. And a man watching me. I jerked back in surprise. A figure stood by a tree in the yard, about thirty feet away, where he could easily see through the window. He was close enough that I probably could have thrown something and hit him. He was certainly close enough that he could have seen what Lissa and I had just done. The shadows covered him so well that even with my heightened sight, I couldn't make out any of his features, save for his height. He was tall. Really tall. He stood there for just a moment, barely discernible, and then stepped back, disappearing into the shadows cast by the trees on the far side of the yard. I was pretty sure I saw someone else move nearby and join him before the blackness swallowed them both. Whoever these figures were, Oscar didn't like them. Not counting me, he usually got along with most people, growing upset only when someone posed an immediate danger. The guy outside hadn't done anything threatening to Oscar, but the cat had sensed something, something that put him on edge. Something similar to what he always sensed in me. Icy fear raced through me, almost – but not quite – eradicating the lovely bliss of Lissa's bite. Backing up from the window, I jerked on a pair of jeans that I found on the floor, nearly falling over in the process. Once they were on, I grabbed my coat and Lissa's, along with our wallets. Shoving my feet into the first shoes I saw, I headed out the door. Downstairs, I found her in the cramped kitchen, rummaging through the refrigerator. One of our housemates, Jeremy, sat at the table, hand on his forehead as he stared sadly at a calculus book. Lissa regarded me with surprise. â€Å"You shouldn't be up.† â€Å"We have to go. Now.† Her eyes widened, and then a moment later, understanding clicked in. â€Å"Are you? ­really? Are you sure?† I nodded. I couldn't explain how I knew for sure. I just did. Jeremy watched us curiously. â€Å"What's wrong?† An idea came to mind. â€Å"Liss, get his car keys.† He looked back and forth between us. â€Å"What are you – â€Å" Lissa unhesitatingly walked over to him. Her fear poured into me through our psychic bond, but there was something else too: her complete faith that I would take care of everything, that we would be safe. Like always, I hoped I was worthy of that kind of trust. She smiled broadly and gazed directly into his eyes. For a moment, Jeremy just stared, still confused, and then I saw the thrall seize him. His eyes glazed over, and he regarded her adoringly. â€Å"We need to borrow your car,† she said in a gentle voice. â€Å"Where are your keys?† He smiled, and I shivered. I had a high resistance to compulsion, but I could still feel its effects when it was directed at another person. That, and I'd been taught my entire life that using it was wrong. Reaching into his pocket, Jeremy handed over a set of keys hanging on a large red key chain. â€Å"Thank you,† said Lissa. â€Å"And where is it parked?† â€Å"Down the street,† he said dreamily. â€Å"At the corner. By Brown.† Four blocks away. â€Å"Thank you,† she repeated, backing up. â€Å"As soon as we leave, I want you to go back to studying. Forget you ever saw us tonight.† He nodded obligingly. I got the impression he would have walked off a cliff for her right then if she'd asked. All humans were susceptible to compulsion, but Jeremy appeared weaker than most. That came in handy right now. â€Å"Come on,† I told her. â€Å"We've got to move.† We stepped outside, heading toward the corner he'd named. I was still dizzy from the bite and kept stumbling, unable to move as quickly as I wanted. Lissa had to catch hold of me a few times to stop me from falling. All the time, that anxiety rushed into me from her mind. I tried my best to ignore it; I had my own fears to deal with. â€Å"Rose? ­what are we going to do if they catch us?† she whispered. â€Å"They won't,† I said fiercely. â€Å"I won't let them.† â€Å"But if they've found us – â€Å" â€Å"They found us before. They didn't catch us then. We'll just drive over to the train station and go to L.A. They'll lose the trail.† I made it sound simple. I always did, even though there was nothing simple about being on the run from the people we'd grown up with. We'd been doing it for two years, hiding wherever we could and just trying to finish high school. Our senior year had just started, and living on a college campus had seemed safe. We were so close to freedom. She said nothing more, and I felt her faith in me surge up once more. This was the way it had always been between us. I was the one who took action, who made sure things happened – sometimes recklessly so. She was the more reasonable one, the one who thought things out and researched them extensively before acting. Both styles had their uses, but at the moment, recklessness was called for. We didn't have time to hesitate. Lissa and I had been best friends ever since kindergarten, when our teacher had paired us together for writing lessons. Forcing five-year-olds to spell Vasilisa Dragomir and Rosemarie Hathaway was beyond cruel, and we'd – or rather, I'd – responded appropriately. I'd chucked my book at our teacher and called her a fascist bastard. I hadn't known what those words meant, but I'd known how to hit a moving target. Lissa and I had been inseparable ever since. â€Å"Do you hear that?† she asked suddenly. It took me a few seconds to pick up what her sharper senses already had. Footsteps, moving fast. I grimaced. We had two more blocks to go. â€Å"We've got to run for it,† I said, catching hold of her arm. â€Å"But you can't – â€Å" â€Å"Run.† It took every ounce of my willpower not to pass out on the sidewalk. My body didn't want to run after losing blood or while still metabolizing the effects of her saliva. But I ordered my muscles to stop their bitching and clung to Lissa as our feet pounded against the concrete. Normally I could have outrun her without any extra effort – particularly since she was barefoot – but tonight, she was all that held me upright. The pursuing footsteps grew louder, closer. Black stars danced before my eyes. Ahead of us, I could make out Jeremy's green Honda. Oh God, if we could just make it – Ten feet from the car, a man stepped directly into our path. We came to a screeching halt, and I jerked Lissa back by her arm. It was him, the guy I'd seen across the street watching me. He was older than us, maybe mid-twenties, and as tall as I'd figured, probably six-six or six-seven. And under different circumstances – say, when he wasn't holding up our desperate escape – I would have thought he was hot. Shoulder-length brown hair, tied back in a short ponytail. Dark brown eyes. A long brown coat-a duster, I thought it was called. But his hotness was irrelevant now. He was only an obstacle keeping Lissa and me away from the car and our freedom. The footsteps behind us slowed, and I knew our pursuers had caught up. Off to the sides, I detected more movement, more people closing in. God. They'd sent almost a dozen guardians to retrieve us. I couldn't believe it. The queen herself didn't travel with that many. Panicked and not entirely in control of my higher reasoning, I acted out of instinct. I pressed up to Lissa, keeping her behind me and away from the man who appeared to be the leader. â€Å"Leave her alone,† I growled. â€Å"Don't touch her.† His face was unreadable, but he held out his hands in what was apparently supposed to be some sort of calming gesture, like I was a rabid animal he was planning to sedate. â€Å"I'm not going to – â€Å" He took a step forward. Too close. I attacked him, leaping out in an offensive maneuver I hadn't used in two years, not since Lissa and I had run away. The move was stupid, another reaction born of instinct and fear. And it was hopeless. He was a skilled guardian, not a novice who hadn't finished his training. He also wasn't weak and on the verge of passing out. And man, was he fast. I'd forgotten how fast guardians could be, how they could move and strike like cobras. He knocked me off as though brushing away a fly, and his hands slammed into me and sent me backwards. I don't think he meant to strike that hard – probably just intended to keep me away – but my lack of coordination interfered with my ability to respond. Unable to catch my footing, I started to fall, heading straight toward the sidewalk at a twisted angle, hip-first. It was going to hurt. A lot. Only it didn't. Just as quickly as he'd blocked me, the man reached out and caught my arm, keeping me upright. When I'd steadied myself, I noticed he was staring at me – or, more precisely, at my neck. Still disoriented, I didn't get it right away. Then, slowly, my free hand reached up to the side of my throat and lightly touched the wound Lissa had made earlier. When I pulled my fingers back, I saw slick, dark blood on my skin. Embarrassed, I shook my hair so that it fell forward around my face. My hair was thick and long and completely covered my neck. I'd grown it out for precisely this reason. The guy's dark eyes lingered on the now-covered bite a moment longer and then met mine. I returned his look defiantly and quickly jerked out of his hold. He let me go, though I knew he could have restrained me all night if he'd wanted. Fighting the nauseating dizziness, I backed toward Lissa again, bracing myself for another attack. Suddenly, her hand caught hold of mine. â€Å"Rose,† she said quietly. â€Å"Don't.† Her words had no effect on me at first, but calming thoughts gradually began to settle in my mind, coming across through the bond. It wasn't exactly compulsion – she wouldn't use that on me – but it was effectual, as was the fact that we were hopelessly outnumbered and outclassed. Even I knew struggling would be pointless. The tension left my body, and I sagged in defeat. Sensing my resignation, the man stepped forward, turning his attention to Lissa. His face was calm. He swept her a bow and managed to look graceful doing it, which surprised me considering his height. â€Å"My name is Dimitri Belikov,† he said. I could hear a faint Russian accent. â€Å"I've come to take you back to St. Vladimir's Academy, Princess.†