Vasilisa "Lissa" Dragomir is a royal Moroi vampire and the last of her line who specializes in the rare element of Spirit. After a traumatic car accident killed her parents and brother, Lissa used forbidden healing magic to resurrect her best friend, Rose Hathaway, creating a mental bond that makes them soulmates and, temporarily, "shadow-kissed".
Key Backstory and Development:
The Accident & Resurrection: Two years before Vampire Academy, Lissa's family died in a car crash. In her grief, she unknowingly used Spirit to bring back Rose, who was also killed in the crash.
The Bond & Corruption: The resurrection created a one-sided mental bond allowing Rose to see through Lissa's eyes. Using Spirit causes a "blackness" that strains Lissa's mental health, leading to her cutting herself to cope.
Secret Abilities: Initially believed to have no elemental magic, it is revealed Lissa can heal animals and people from the dead, a power that makes her unique and targeted by others.
Life on the Run: Following the crash, Lissa and Rose ran away from St. Vladimir's Academy, hiding among humans to escape the pressures of royalty and dangerous, rising threats from Strigoi.
Relationship Status: Lissa falls in love with Christian Ozera, a fellow outcast with fire magic, who understands her, despite her royal status.
Lissa is extremely skilled in social interactions, due in part to the natural charisma that spirit brings about but also due to her personality. She dislikes being a part of the Academy's social crowd because it just involves too many head games and it tires her out.
Lissa is rather idealistic. She believes strongly in equal rights for all Moroi, both royal and non-royal, as well as for dhampirs. She holds great disdain for the elitism of many royals, finding it selfish, snobby, and unfair. She also dislikes the treatment of dhampirs as property. She can get somewhat worked up when talking about such concepts, shown during her first private audience with Queen Tatiana. She also dislikes the Queen for attempting to control her life and keep her on the track as an elite Moroi princess.
Lissa prefers to carefully think out a plan before taking action, though she has complete faith in Rose's ability to protect her. Despite her belief that dhampirs should not be taken for granted, Lissa relies heavily on Rose to protect her, often turning to Rose whenever she is hurt or afraid.
Despite Lissa's strength, she can be quite fragile at times, mostly due to the negative effects spirit has on one's mind. Before she and Rose flee the Academy, and for a time after their return, Lissa experiences such emotional turmoil that she begins cutting herself in order to control the pain. While she claims she doesn't want to die, and hates pain, she states that the pain gave her something else to focus on, which helps her control the darkness. She's also susceptible to becoming addicted to compulsion, using it on teachers and students whether on purpose or not.
Lissa's story centers on her overcoming depression, mastering her dangerous magic, and navigating the political dangers of the Moroi world with Rose by her side.