Although I had pretended Dimitri's little joke on me hadn't affected me, it did. He was only teasing me, pretending that he would tell me, then walking away, but it only made me angry and agitated. This was my life at stake. And someone withholding information, even though it was insignificant, made me nervous.

"What are we doing?" My voice booms over the crowd. "We have feeders! We do not kill for our food! So why are we murdering innocent people?"

I love this part. Everyone has their eyes glued to me, watching, awestruck. I can control their emotions with my words, no compulsion required.

"Because that's what we're doing, isn't it? Sending children out into the field. Should we let them drink at sixteen? No! Should we let them live on their own? No! Why? Because they're just kids!" The group roars in agreement.

I try not to smile, although adreniline rushes through me. "And when these kids aren't ready, they will be unable to protect themselves, let alone Moroi. We are harming not only them, but ourselves. Would you want your spouses' lives in the hands of these unprepared teens? Your friends? Your children?" I let the thought weigh them down.

"And all to stay one step ahead of the strigoi, for a month or two? I guess the question is, how much are you willing to give up?" I stare them down before leaving the podium. The group whoops and cheers in agreement.

I step off of the stage with a smile to myself. I am glad to have called this meeting. I missed being out here, fighting for what I believe in. Lying low is not my style.

The meeting is adjorned, and I am quickly met by a very excited eighteen-year-old boy. Man. I sigh; time flies.

"Christian!" I smile giving him a hug. He grins broadly.

"Aunt Tasha! You were amazing. Everyone is totally convinced!"

I smile at my nephew's contagious enthusiasm. "Well, I hope so."

Christian is talking a mile-a-minute, making wild hand gestures in an attempt to allow me to decode his words, which were starting to run together. I laugh.

"Christian. Christian! Calm down!" He gives me a small smile and nods. I give him a pat on the back and a small, friendly push, which he returns.

"Miss Ozera?" I turn to face the one person that made my blood chill.

I plaster on a thick, pastey smile. "Mr. Mazar."

"Please," he says, grinning like a criminal. "Call me Abe."

I nod, giving him the cue to continue. His face turns solemn, demonstrating his infamous theatrical expressions. "I need to talk with you."

Crap.

My hands are clenched tightly in my lap. He sits calmly across the table, sipping some type of exotic drink I had never heard of.

"So, Miss Ozera. How long have you known my daughter?" I wondered why he was questioning me. I wondered if Rose knew he was adressing her as his daughter.

"Uh, I've met her a few times before, but I've known her fairly well for about a year, now." He nods, as if storing the information for later use.

"And where were you the night the Queen was murdered?" I froze, but refused to let it show on my face. My heartbeat pulsed in my ears. This is it...

"Me? I was visiting Dimitri," I said smoothly. Abe looked up at me, and I was sure my heart would stop then and there.

He nodded slowly, and I hear myself ask, "Why?"

He sighs. My heart is throwing itself against my ribcage in a way that makes it seem like it is desperate to get out. It didn't like being hopelessly trapped either.

"Because, I need to make sure no one saw her...out." I freeze, but relief overwhelms me. Abe-the-all-seeing hasn't sensed my fear, like I thought he was able to. He must care for young Rosemarie more than I could imagine.

"You don't think she actually..." I trail off, playing with his desperation.

"No! No, of course not. I...worry about her. All the time." He sighs and strokes his chin. I am speechless; amazed that he has opened up to me. The stress must really be getting to him.

"She'll be okay, Abe. She's a strong girl." He gives a small smile, a grateful smile. After thanking me, he dismisses me, slipping back into his normal self like a skin.

As I depart, only one thing is on my mind. Abe is a much better actor than anyone would have ever imagined.