CHAPTER SIX

Lissa and I both watched Tasha as she walked away, and for once I was the one that was confused and Lissa was the one angry.

She went back into her apartment and started pacing. We both kept replaying Tasha's words back and forth in our heads.

Lissa was fuming. She wasn't even in school anymore and people were still trying to tell her what to do.

And me, well I just couldn't get my head around the drastic change in Tasha, I couldn't put my finger on what was wrong with her but something was.

Lissa didn't have time to dwell on Tasha's words however; her next meeting was supposed to start in another 15 minutes.

I decided to hang around in her mind for the rest of her meetings. I was pretty sure she would be getting the same line of questioning from the rest of the representatives but, I wanted to stick around and make sure I knew exactly what was going on!

Most of the people that came to Lissa really didn't surprise me; they were the people that voted against the new law that mean Dhampir's would graduate at 16. Her last one however threw me even more than Lissa's conversation with Tasha.

It was the newly elected Voda family representative, Prince Alexander Voda.

Lissa opened the door to the Princes knock.

I didn't know the Prince very well at all, I mean I had seen him around but the court was so big that, that wasn't a surprise.

But from the look on his face and the way he walked in to Lissa apartment, I would have put money on him being incredible anxious.

Lissa motion to toward a love seat opposite her chair.

"Please sit down." She said. "Can I offer you refreshment?"

"No thank you, I'm fine." Alexander said.

When he had sat down Lissa moved to her seat and sat very openly, like me she could tell he was anxious. She took a look at his aura, and it was jumpy.

Lissa decided to start the ball rolling.

"So, Prince Alexander," she started

"Please Princess call me Alex, I still find being called by my new title a little off putting."

Lissa smiled, that was something she total understood.

"Very well, Alex, What brings you here today? I'm sure you can understand that i was a little surprise when I received a call from your personal secretary."

Lissa was being cautious, she didn't want to say anything much until she knew what was going through the princes head, considering, he was technically the opposition.

Alex nodded his head for a few seconds.

"I do understand that my being here, is shall we say, unexpected." Alex paused, obviously considering his word carefully.

"As you are aware, I only gained my families title and vote because of the death of my dear cousin. When Queen Tatiana put the vote about the Dhampir's to the counsel, I was overwhelmed with the death of a family member, the burden of my new position and the wishes of my family." Alex paused again.

"What are you trying to tell me Alex? Are you saying that you have changed your opinion about the new law? Because if you are, I'm afraid that it may have come a bit late." Lissa said, she had no notable tone in her voice that might be picked up as sarcasm but I was in her head so I heard it loud and clear.

"I'm not saying that princess, but what I am saying is that perhaps after reading the report of Pricilla's death, that, I now find myself aware of what a couple of Strigoi can do to a team of adult guardians. And now as a result of this new knowledge, I feel it is, prudent, to research the other side of the argument."

Lissa contemplated Alex's words. He hadn't come right out and said, 'screw the new law'. But it was very obvious he was having second thoughts. That made Lissa and I both wonder if there were other representatives feeling the same way.

"I see." Said Lissa. "So how can I assist you in your quest for information?"

"Well, unlike most of the other members of the counsel and indeed my own family, I do not have any questions about your ability to lead, should that become an option, as I knew your father well, and I am aware that he provided both yourself and your brother with the skills to rule."

Well, that was a little bit of interesting information. Even if both Lissa and I didn't entirely agree with the passed on skills, yes he had taught Andre, but not Lissa.

Alex continued.

"I am also aware that along with your friend, Miss Hathaway, you are strongly opposed to the idea of Dhampir's graduating and becoming guardians at the age of 16. So, that taken into consideration, I would like to know, how you would propose to defend us against the Strigoi (if not with the younger Dhampir)?"

Lissa looked at Alex for several seconds.

All of the other representatives Lissa had seen that morning, had been asking the sort of question, the only difference between Alex and the rest of them was that Alex had asked a direct question, were as the rest of them had skirted around the direct line, so Lissa had been able to give reasonably vague answers, so she wouldn't show her hand to early.

"Alex, there are so many different theories about how to deal with the Strigoi threat." Lissa started. "But the question should really be which methods will work. Some of our number, say we should hide, others say that we should fight, use the powers that we are gifted with. But as yet neither of those two theories or any other has been studied at length. So until there is a time that, that has actually happened, I don't believe that, me, as a non-military mind should be saying one way or another."

I was so proud of Lissa; she was really getting her head around the whole, political-non-committal-answer thing.

Alex however was not.

"Princess, I have listened to the politicians of our society for many years, so I am aware of non committal answer. But surely you understand that at this time our people need real answers, not just vague rubbish that we as royals dish out when we don't want to put our necks out for fear of the guillotine."

"Let me assure you Alex, that I am not afraid of putting my head out, but at this point I do not know if you are friend or foe, so you will excuse me if I do not share with you the inter thoughts of my political mind."

Lissa stood abruptly, suddenly very tired of people and questions.

She looked over at Alex smiling sweetly. "If you excuse me I have another appointment that I will be late for if I do not hurry."

She was lying, but she was done for the day.

Alex just nodded, and stood to leave, obviously feeling the small bit of compulsion Lissa had put in her words.

"Thank you for your time Princess." Alex replied and moved to the door and out of the apartment.

When Lissa was sure she had left enough time for him to clear the hallway, she left almost at a run to come and see me, to have a normal conversation that she didn't have to watch what she said.