I couldn't stop pacing. I tried to calm myself with slow deep breathes. I looked at my hands and noticed they were shaking. I was starting to feel sweaty. Oh God! When was the torture going to be over? I didn't think I could take the suspense for much longer. I might cave and have a peek. Oh shit! What if it was bad? Could I stop myself from crying?

"Rose." I whirled around and looked at Adrian. He looked highly amused. If he ruined Dimitri's hair, I was going to shave him bald.

"Come on, Rose. I can see it in your eyes. You doubt my hair styling abilities." He was trying to taunt me. This was going to be bad. I took a deep breath to try and calm my out of whack emotions.

"Okay, Adrian. Take me to him." I was trying to be brave but inside I was a wreck. Adrian walked into the hallway and gestured for me to go into the bathroom. I couldn't see Dimitri right away.

When I got into the bathroom, I gasped. Dimitri was sitting on the edge of the bathtub with no shirt on, towel-drying his hair. He looked up at me and grinned.

"So? What do you think? Does it pass?" I didn't know what to say at first. I walked up to him and reached out tentatively to touch his hair. It was still soft. I closed my eyes and let my fingers roam, running it through the strands of silk.

"Roza," he called to me in a husky voice. "You still haven't said if you like it."

"Yes," I finally replied. "I like your long hair best but this is still really good. I am just so relieved he didn't completely fuck it up."

Dimitri chuckled and pulled me into his lap. "I kind of like it. Maybe I should have cut my hair sooner."

"Well," I said softly. I went back to running my fingers through his hair.

The length was definitely shorter; grazing his ears and not his chin anymore. The color was softer too. Instead of a wet sand color, it now took on the look of the sand you see on those pristine beaches.

"I think you sort of look like Smith."

He looked confused.

"The hot model guy from Sex in the City," I clarified.

He still didn't seem to know who I was talking about.

I sighed and rolled my eyes, giving up. "Yes! I like it. Happy?"

"Extremely." He kissed my nose. "Come on. You need to put that big ugly bra on so we can go out and scout the casinos."

I groaned but got up to do his bidding.

About an hour later, we walked into the same club from our last trip to Vegas. I was not sure this was a good idea but Adrian felt like it was a great place to test out our new look.

Ironically, the same man who had talked to Adrian previously about my clothes was leaning against the bar. With a wink in my direction, Adrian walked up to the bar and stood next to the man.

"Hey." He nodded at the man.

The man glanced at him and went back to nursing his drink. I decided to push my luck and walked up to Adrian, leaning on his arm.

"Hey babe! Can I get you a drink?" I rolled my eyes but smiled for effect.

"Oh, yes please," I said, trying to sound breathy.

Adrian ordered me a vodka tonic. Gross! I pretended to drink from my glass. It was foul stuff. Besides, I had my fill of vodka back in Russia.

I looked around for Dimitri and found him standing silently by the door. He was posing as a private bodyguard. I decided to go stand by him while Adrian headed over to the gaming tables. I had a suspicious feeling we were going to be here a while.

Finally, Adrian came over to us. He leaned in casually as if what he was saying was of no importance.

"Well Eric was definitely a regular here but apparently, the dancing girl he had a fancy for worked out of a different club. I asked which one and the guy told me he didn't know, only that her costume was all gold with silver feathers. He also told me that she had a small tattoo on her back. Something green and gold." He seemed lost in thought for a moment.

I was going to question him but before I could, he shook his head and started walking towards the door.

"Well kids, lets go watch some of the famous shows on the main strip and see if we can find gold dancing costumes," Adrian said with a leering grin.

Thank God we didn't have to search long. Apparently, the Moroi community had their own strip just a block behind the real Vegas strip. Thankfully, this strip was much smaller; consisting of only a half a dozen clubs.

It was only the third club we had gone into when we saw the costumes that matched the mans description. We tried to be discrete, looking for a girl with a green and gold tattoo but we had no luck.

Finally we resorted to straight out asking one of the girls if she knew of anyone with such a tattoo. She frowned at us and said no but I suspected she knew differently. I asked Dimitri and Adrian what they thought.

"I really think this chick knows something. Maybe we should wait around till after the last show and ask her again?" I really meant we should force her to tell us the truth.

Unfortunately, Dimitri seemed to sense that was what I meant.

"Roza. How about if Adrian asks her nicely. By himself." I stared at him incredulously.

"What?" I almost shrieked. "Asks nicely? Seriously, Comrade. I get that you mean compulsion but Adrian is really not that good at it."

"Hey!" Adrian chimed in. "I am actually very good and I could prove it if you're willing?"

"It won't work like before, Adrian." I scoffed. "I wanted you to compel me before. I was trying to see if I would feel the same deep desire to kiss you as I had for Dimitri. I asked you to compel me, remember? So I don't think I will be that easy again." I folded my arms as if my word was final.

"Silly dhampir. I will compel Dimitri. If I can compel him, I can compel anyone, right?"

The idea of what Adrian might have Dimitri do made me a little bit nervous.

"I don't know if that's a good idea," I voiced.

Dimitri interceded. "Lets do it. We need to know if this can work. Show me what you got." He looked Adrian full in the eyes. Nobody moved for a moment. Suddenly, I saw Dimitri's eyes glaze over and I thought this might actually be working.

"Okay, Dimitri. What shall we have you do? Ah, I know! I want you to tell me that I am way better looking than you and that you think I am probably a better kisser too and this is why Rose should have stayed with me and not let you drool all over her."

Ha, I thought Adrian was never going to get Dimitri to say that!

"Adrian, you are much better looking than I am and I am sure that you are a better kisser. Rose should have stayed with you instead of letting me drool all over her."

I was floored! He really said it. Amazing. I was kind of ticked at Adrian for his choice of words but it had actually worked!

"Okay, Adrian. Let him go." I was hoping he wouldn't make him do anything else.

Adrian waved his hand in front of Dimitri's eyes and the glazed look vanished.

"I knew what you were doing but I couldn't stop myself from saying it. I really don't like that feeling. Oh, and by the way." He turned to Adrian. "I don't think you're a better kisser than I am. I got to practice while sober." He smirked at Adrian who smirked back.

"Maybe, but you didn't say I wasn't better looking." At this, they both laughed while I rolled my eyes. Idiots.

We decided to hang out and wait for our girl to finish for the night in the hope of "convincing" her to tell us who our mystery women might be.

Adrian gave me a wad of cash to gamble with and we split up in the casino. Dimitri stayed with me just in case there was any trouble. It only took me about two hours to lose all of the money Adrian had given me. I nodded to Dimitri and we headed over to Adrian at the black jack table. He appeared to be doing well and was in high spirits.

"Ah my dhampirs! Come here and be my lucky charms. Marie darling, what do you think? Should I hold or hit?"

I hesitated; obviously he had been drinking . I didn't want to risk our cover. Dimitri put his hand on my back and urged me forward. Probably guessing Adrian would make a scene if I didn't go over now.

I looked at his cards. He had 18. I knew the rules this was a risky one to hit on.

"Hit," I finally said.

"You heard the lady. Hit!" yelled Adrian. I was ready to lose but when the dealer flipped over the next card, it was a three.

Adrian kissed my hand. "I told you that you were my lucky charm."

He must have been able to sense why we were there because he began to gather his chips. "Well gentlemen, thank you for the fun, but I must go take care of my lucky charm before she tarnishes." He winked at the other men at the table and I knew they thought I was his blood whore.

I wanted to be mad but I knew pretending otherwise would draw too much attention to us.

We walked over to the cashier and I checked my watch, making sure we weren't behind schedule.

"The show ended two minutes ago. We should get over to the stage door soon, guys," I protested.

"She is suspicious of us. She will be waiting as long as possible trying to make sure we are gone before she comes out," Dimitri said. I nodded, agreeing with his logic.

We cashed in the chips and headed outside around the back to the dancer entrance. We waited about a half an hour when suddenly one lone figure cautiously stepped out the door and into the shadows. Adrian immediately approached her.

"Excuse me ma'am. I know I spoke with you earlier but I was hoping that maybe you have had the chance to remember something else." He spoke calmly, looking her in the eyes.

"Listen young man," she began answering, sounding irritated. Suddenly, her eyes glazed over and she faltered. "I'm sorry. What did you say?"

Adrian softly repeated himself. "I was hoping that maybe you could tell me something about a dancer with a green and gold tattoo on her back. Is there anything you remember?"

She looked scared but started speaking. "Yes. Danny was my roommate for years. She was my friend back in school but her parents hated me because I was common. Her family was royal. When she ran away from home just after graduation, she stayed here with me in my apartment. The men all loved Danny. But I'm sorry I don't know anything current. I haven't seen her in years. She had this awful husband who forbid her to see me. The last time I saw her she told me she was pregnant and was crying. I think she was afraid of her husband finding out. I suspect the child belonged to her lover, not her husband." She grew teary-eyed as she told us this story. I was starting to feel really sorry for this Danny.

Adrian pressed her with one last question. "What was Danny's last name?" He seemed scared to even ask. Odd.

"I'm sorry dear, I don't know her married name. Only her maiden one. It was Tauras."

I knew that name. Why did I know that name? I looked over at Dimitri who looked shocked. He was staring at Adrian who, when I looked, appeared panic stricken.

The women seemed to have come to her senses. She gave a little scream and took off.

No one followed. I was still lost.

I turned to Dimitri. "Why do we know that name?" I asked in a small voice. It was Adrian who answered.

"Because that's my mother's maiden name." His green eyes flashed with anger.