This is my favorite chapter so far. I hope everyone enjoys it. Thanks for reading!

Despite relaxing most of the night I was incredibly tired. Just walking the rest of the way back to my room felt like an uphill battle. Unlocking my door I was prepared to dive full clothed into my bed. However, stepping out of my shoes and taking a few steps inside my room I was startled to hear shouting from the adjoining room. Hoping it was just the television or my imagination I took a few steps toward the sightly cracked connecting door.

"What do you mean you aren't sure where she is? Does she not own a cell phone? This is ridiculous Adrian!" I heard my grandmother yell for the first time. "This is how children get out of control. I let you run off with whoever you wanted and look where it got you."

"Mother relax. Paris is in good hands. Do you think that I would let anything happen to her?" My father tried to calm her, but her comments must have hurt his pride. "I think that all things considered Sydney and I have done a great job so far. Paris is a good girl."

"I can't believe what I'm hearing. You let her continue to associate with unsuitable individuals like that Mazur character further and you are going to have a smart mouth ungrateful child on your hands. Just like you were!" She shouted back at him. "I want better for Paris than this sheltered back woods lifestyle you are so insistent on giving her. She's exceptional, can you imagine how if she was a Moroi what kind of opportunities I could have given her. I know you didn't think about the repercussions your little love affair would have on your children when you ran off with that creature."

I couldn't take it anymore I hit the door so hard with my shoulder that it swung open and smacked into the wall on the other side. I didn't say anything at first I was frozen in place. Looking around I surveyed grim atmosphere in the room.

When my eyes locked with my father's I could see the regret etched in his face. "Paris," he spoke softly, "I'm sorry you heard that."

I turned my pained eyes to my grandmother who stood stock still with no apologizes. "Where have you been young lady? Do you know how worried I have been?"

This was insane, the woman met me today and now she was worried about my welfare. I turned toward my father and did my best to direct my communication to him, "I thought you knew where I was. Abe said he cleared it all with you."

"He did sweetheart I wasn't worried." Dad returned encouragingly.

"You see I told you Abe would be the instigator in all of this." My grandmother took a step toward me and tried a pleading tone, "Paris you have to be careful who you associate yourself with. Making bad connections or reputations now can have repercussions that last a very long time. People around here have very good memories."

I so badly wanted to scream at her and tell her that a former inmate should not be lecturing me about bad reputations. I was so angry that the one person here that she chose to ally me with was just downstairs drunk off his ass making a huge scene and trying to drag me into it. But, what I couldn't handle was hearing her call my mother a creature. My mother was the kindest, smartest, most generous person that I knew deserved more respect.

I tried to think how my mother would want me to handle this situation and took a step back. All the stress in the room had me feeling like I was on fire. I pulled the long arms of Mason coat off and draped it over my arm.

Before I could respond she spoke up again, "What is that horrible smell and what in the world are you wearing?" She fanned her hand in front of her face and pinched her face like she was sucking on a lemon.

"We went out to dinner and I didn't have a coat so I borrowed one." I tried diplomatically.

My grandmother took a deep clearing breath, "Well, if you left the resort that probably means that not too many people saw you so thank God for that. You are an incredibly bright girl Paris, you have to know that a smelly ski jacket sprayed with cheap men's cologne it not a suitable option for you. You are an Ivashkov and you will smell, dress, and carry yourself as one."

I really didn't care what Mason had sprayed on the jacket it smelled incredible to me, just like him and I wanted to live in it. I wanted to roll around in it and never forget what it felt like in his arms.

"I can tell that you have good intensions Grandmother and I will try my best to appease you," I started cautiously, "but I promise you that if you continue you to speak poorly of my Mother or persist in calling her names I will do everything in my power to defy you." I wanted to threaten her within an inch of her social climbing life, but I kept it simple, "This is completely nonnegotiable."

The room was quiet for a heartbeat and I thought all hell was about to breakloose, when oddly my grandmother nodded. "Family loyalty has always been important to me Paris," she looked sadly at my father finally letting her perfectly posed facade crumble, "I would have done anything for my family, but in the end I failed them." For the first time I felt bad for her, even if it had been her own doing, she had lost her only child.

My father closed his eyes and his head fell to his chest in resignation.

"I'm glad we have an understanding," I said boldly hoping to end the standoff.

Without skipping a beat my grandmother swung her head up and plastered the cold facade back on her face, "At five this afternoon I have booked us the main level of the spa. Princess Jill has received an invitation," she glanced poignantly at my father, "and a few other women that I want you to align yourself with will be in attendance. Cross your fingers that a good salt scrub will remove that toxic smell from your pores. I hope that you will do your best to be punctual."

"I will," I conceded, "thank you for the invitation." I was impressed that she asked rather than ordered me.

She started toward the door and turned to ask, "O and before I forget would you like to extend an invitation to any of your new suitable friends?"

I thought for a moment, "Would Paisley Abernathy be suitable?" I asked respectfully and bracing myself for her response.

"You mean Alexandria's daughter?" she said knowingly. I had no idea. "Silly woman had too much royal blood in her to marry that Abernathy man. I'll send an invitation to them, anyone else?"

"Not that I can think of. Maybe I should warn you that Nicole Badica seems to feel threatened by me. I have no idea what I did, but she seems to have a problem breathing the same air as me. Did you happen to invite her?"

My grandmother looked surprised, "Definitely not, her mother is a vile woman. It doesn't surprise me that her daughter has a similar disposition."

I wanted to jump up and down and do an enthusiastic fist pump.

"Get some sleep," she ordered us both, "Adrian think about what I told you." She said and slipped out of the room.

I felt like I had been hit by a Mac truck and survived. Dropping my shoulders I slumped against the wall behind me, tilted my head back, and closed my eyes.

"You okay Paris," my father sighed.

"Long couple of days. I don't know how anyone gets used to this nocturnal schedule. I feel like I've been up for a week."

"You know that's not what I'm talking about." He tried again, "How was your outing?"

This pepped me up a bit, "It was really fun. It's odd how many normal things that Mason and Alex have never experienced. No matter what anyone tells you, I'm glad that I get to live a normal life."

He gave me a huge hug and nodded his head in understanding. I knew that the timing was terrible, but I needed to tell him about the drama Mathew had caused. My father would not appreciate being ambushed with this information later.

"I've got to tell you about something that happened on my way up here," I said still slumped over against the wall.

My father looked at me expectantly as I explained the strange confrontation I had endured with Mathew. Dad was impressed how well Mason had handled himself but, I was sure if Dimitri hadn't been there Mason might have escalated the situation. At some point in our conversation I crawled over to his bed and drifted off because the next thing I knew I was waking up in his bed. I could hear Jill's whispering voice.

"You've got to talk to Daniella," Jill said quietly, "he does this all the time. This isn't the first scene he's made either. Adrian the kid is unpredictable."

"Don't worry Jill I'm going to have a little chat with him myself."

I rolled over and blinked a few times not exactly sure where I was. My father and Jill were sitting in the adjoining eating area. I pushed the blankets off of me so I could stand up and realized I had fallen asleep in my clothes. Someone must have covered me with the blankets.

I walked in to join them. "Hey Dad-i-o. What's up Jill?" I said sitting at the table to join them.

Dad leaned over and kissed my cheek. "I ordered some breakfast," he said motioning to the cart by the window,"blueberry pancakes and coffee."

I smiled, "You ordered my favorite."

"He wanted you to eat while you still have an appetite," Jill joked. "A day with your grandmother's friends and it's possible neither of us will want to eat till we get home."

"Nah my Paris is tough. You should have heard her give my mom an ultimatum. It was extraordinary." Dad smiled at me.

Jill gasped, "Either you are a complete idiot or you are a diplomat worthy of the United Nations."

"I was angry. I wasn't being rational," I dropped my head in my hands.

"Hey don't beat yourself up Paris. Luckily mom respected you for standing up to her. I wouldn't make a habit out it or anything."

I turned to the cart and served myself breakfast. I only had an hour to get ready if I was going to give into my grandmother's request for punctuality. I left and after shutting the door firmly behind me, I cranked the Bose stereo in my room testing the limits of the sound proofing in my room. Screaming Linkin Park in the shower seemed like a good way to release my stress from the earlier day.

I had only been to a spa once before. My mom had gotten a gift certificate for her birthday a few years ago to the small mother and daughter run spa that was run in our town from my father. They didn't scrub you with salt like my grandmother had suggested, but we had our nails painted and the knots rubbed out of our shoulders. I was just hoping no one came at me with a wax pot and strips of cloth because that would be a deal breaker.

To my surprise Jill and I walked into the spa five minutes early. The place was modern with sleek Asian accents. The lights were soft and everything smelled strongly of citrus. About twenty people we already milling around. A few of the women wore all black uniforms, but most of the women held crystal water glasses with cucumber slices floating around in them. The terry cloth robes they wore seemed very short on the skinny long legs of the Moroi women.

We were greeted and rushed into a private changing area and given matching robes. It was like a strange slumber party. When they offered us drinks my request for coffee was met with horror. Apparently the only way to release toxins from my body was copious amount of water.

I spotted Paisley easily, her red hair shining in the sea of ultra blonde women. She looked lost standing awkwardly off to the side. When Paisley saw me emerge from the dressing room her eyes lit up and she came toward me.

Paisley threw her arms around my neck, "I can't believe you got me invited, this is amazing."

I pulled back and smiled, "It's not a big deal Paisley. Who else would I invite?"

"I know you don't really understand, but this is a really big deal to my mom. These are all the women that she grew up with. When she married my dad she stopped getting included in social events. She got shut out." Paisley was fighting back emotion.

"Well, cheer up, it's going to be a fun day." I encouraged her.

Paisley and I were whisked off into the heart of the salon. We spend the day being rubbed and scrubbed. My face was steamed and pealed. The experience was oddly invigorating. My grandmother would occasionally come in to the treatment areas to introduce me to different people explaining their importance and status. I really did make an effort to remember names.

When we emerged from the steam room the main area had been filled with different trays of tiny sandwiches and canapés. Everyone was literally pecking at the selection. I could probably take down the whole tray even after my generous breakfast.

Paisley stayed by my side and just shook her head humorously as I returned for a second, than third helping of food. It was a mystery to me how these people could survive on such small portions. Paisley introduced me to her mother who seemed sweet and good natured. She was very excited that we had made fast friends and chatted enthusiastically about us getting together at court over the summer. I had definitely made an ally in Alexandria Abernathy.

We continued our day of beauty by having our nails buffed and painted they wrapped our feet in a funny wax booties that made our feet ultra soft after they were ripped off. It was strange, but affective. I conceded and let my grandmother wax my eyebrows. I was proud of myself for insisting she stop there.

Mason and I hadn't had much of a chance to chat throughout my spa experience. Cell phone and steam rooms were apparently not a great combination. So, while we had our nails done I had a chance to text him about where I was and he sent me a bunch of funny texts about how tough my life was. I couldn't help but laugh out loud. Mason was really starting to let his guard down with me.

Our last stop of the day was to have our hair done.

"Paisley I'm so jealous. You have the most beautiful hair," I said sitting next to her my own swivel chair. I was watching her reaction in the reflection in the long mirror that stretched the length of the salon.

"Your kidding right. No one wants to be a red head." Paisley returned exasperated.

"Yes they do!" I argued. People spend hundreds of dollars a month in salons trying to achieve your perfect color. Everyone is blonde. We are a dime a dozen."

"None of the Moroi do that. It's really unusual for us to have red hair." She sighed, "You aren't ultra platinum blonde like everyone else either. You have all kinds of beautiful highlights and lowlights in your hair."

"At least you don't have to endure dumb blonde jokes." I tried.

"Red heads have way worst jokes. If one more person asks me if the curtains match the drapes I might punch them."

I couldn't help it, I busted out laughing.

"I used to pray everyday I wouldn't be a fire user. Unfortunately, my prayers weren't answered." Paisley paused, "You can imagine the jokes the red headed fire user gets. It used to be torture."

A huge smile spread across my face. "Being a fire user is awesome. It is way better than any anything else." I refrained from mentioning spirit which was clearly the coolest.

We both had our hair trimmed and blown out. I seriously felt like I was cleaner than I had every been. There was no way my grandmother could complain about how I smelled now.

Paisley and I emerged from the salon area and walked over to where Alexandria and my grandmother were chatting.

When she saw me, my grandmother frowned. "I thought you were going to cut your hair?" she said picking up the end of a handful of my hair, "It's too long and scraggily."

I was disappointed by her comment. I thought the hairdresser had done a great job putting in some long layers. "I didn't realize that you felt that way," I answered diplomatically and tried to deflect her comment. "I think they did a great job. Everyone here has been so sweet and helpful." I smiled sweetly at her and the rest of the women that still lingered.

We both thanked my grandmother repeatedly and took the opportunity to publicly stroke her ego. Paisley told her mother that she had an errand to run and asked if I wanted to tag along. Looking for any chance to leave I enthusiastically agreed to accompany her. When we left my grandmother seemed pleased that everything had worked out just the way that she had planned.

"Hey thanks for getting me out of here Paisley," I said gratefully, "where are we going anyway? If you are off to meet up with Andrew I think I'll leave you to it." I smirked.

"No, I just need to stop up on the sixth floor. It's no big deal I'll be quick and then we can to get an actual meal." Paisley cringed and stepped onto the elevator, "I think that if you had eaten any more of those salmon canapés I was going to gag."

I followed along to the sixth floor as we joked about the large very butch women that given us our massages, until I heard my voice being called. Looking up I realized sadly it was Mathew calling my name.

"Paris! Paris! Stop please," Mathew begged.

I hadn't had a chance to fill in Paisley on Mathew's behavior from the night before and I figured if she had heard she would have said something. Paisley paused letting Mathew catch up with us. I wanted to keep walking or disappear. I still had nothing left to say.

"What's going on Mathew? Is something wrong?" Paisley said taking in my expression.

"No everything is fine," I answered quickly, "I'm just not in the mood for Mathew right now."

Paisley seemed confused. She must not have heard about Mathew's drunken scene. There was no avoiding the elephant in the room.

Mathew didn't apologize or try to explain his behavior. To my surprise he tried to tell me what to do, "Don't go in that room." He pointed to the heavy oak doors a few feet in front of us.

Mathew had some nerve thinking that he had any right to boss me around. "It's none of your business what I do or who I do it with," I spat at him, "I stuck up for you. I told everyone that you were a good guy, that you were my friend. You embarrassed me last night."

"I'm sure I did," he replied without any remorse, "right now you need to trust me. Don't go in that room."

Paisley tried to referee, "Don't freak out Mathew, lots of dhampirs come up here, especially the hard core guardians. Paris won't get in trouble." Paisley walked to the door and entered quickly attempting to diffuse the situation.

I followed behind her. Mathew reached out to grab my arm, but I pulled away before he could get a hold of me, " Keep your hands off of me!" I screamed, "Didn't you learn that lesson last night." Mathew looked wounded, but backed off immediately and didn't follow us.

My pride had been badly bruised and I wasn't going to let Mathew think that he had any kind of hold on me. I still had no idea where we were going, but the room was elegantly decorated. When we stepped inside a very tall Moroi man greeted us and took down Paisley's name and room number. Just as I was about to lean over and quiz Paisley on what we were doing the same man lead through another set of doors. Lovely couches were arranged and sectioned off with delicate transparent screens.

Glancing around I saw at least on person sitting on each of the couches. Some of them were alone and others were lounging. I peered over to the couch across from where we were being led and a tall Moroi man that must have been in his early twenties flashed me a wicked grin and showed off his fangs. I had never seen anyone do that before and I stumbled a bit trying to regain my composer. My eyes were locked on the man as he sat down. The older woman sitting on the couch didn't say anything, but quickly tilted her head.

The blood ran out of my face and my hands started to tingle. I could reason what was going to happen next and I wanted to turn away, but I couldn't get my brain to communicate with my muscles. As the young man bit into the woman's neck, she let out a loud moan and my legs went weak. My flight or fight response kicked in and I tore out of the room.

I could hear Paisley in the background asking me what was wrong, but the white noise in my ears was so loud it blocked everything else out. Either she didn't follow behind me or I was too fast, because as I threw open the exterior doors I saw no sign of Paisley.

"Christ Paris," Mathew muttered and pulled me into the woman's room a few doors down the hallway. He led me into one of the large stalls and for the first time I vomited in a public restroom. After I had emptied the entire contents of my stomach I spent a good minute just dry heaving at the vision that was now burned into my brain. Mathew held my newly done hair out of the way and didn't comment. After I finished Mathew left the stall and I sat down and leaned my head against the cold marble wall. When he returned, Mathew had a cold wet paper towel that he laid on my forehead.

Crouching in front of me Mathew spoke gently, "Feel better now?"

I didn't feel better. I felt slimy and gross, so I just stayed rolled in a ball with my legs tucked in toward me.

After a few minutes Mathew spoke again, "Okay time to get you some water. Time to get up Paris." He held out his hand to help me stand.

I didn't move. "How in the world could you possibly know what I need Mathew?" I grumbled into my hands.

"Well, I have thrown up enough times in my life to know that afterwords if you don't drink some water you are going to feel like crap. I think that you should just take my word for it this time Paris. "

Figuring he was probably right and not having the energy to generate another snarky remark, I took his hand and stood up. Walking up to the sink and seeing the flowery decor I realized Mathew was in the lady's room with me. I washed my face and hands and turned to him, "You realize your in the woman's room right?"

Mathew gave me a weak smile, "I'm hoping one day this will be an amusing story."

I rolled my eyes dramatically at him, but let him walk me back to my room. I grabbed a bottle of cold water out my mini bar and attempted to chug the entire bottle. I looked over toward my closet and saw a large dress rack on wheels. Walking up to it I observed six new designer coats in a rainbow of colors and a shiny white ski jacket. Each one with a price tag that could pay a normal families morgage. No one could accuse my grandmother of being subtle. I looked over at the chair where this morning I laid Mason's coat, but to my horror it wasn't there.

"Feeling any better now," Mathew finally spoke standing just inside the door of my suite.

"Are you still here," I glanced over my should at him and said.

"I get it Paris your pissed off. You probably have every reason to be. I just want make sure you are going to toss your cookies again." He remarked and took a few steps toward me.

I could feel my chest rising and falling quickly. "I probably have every reason to be?" I repeated astonished.

"I don't remember anything that happened last night," he said staring at his feet. "Dimitri and your father filled me in on a little bit."

Being taken completely off guard I had no response for him.

"Look I'm not going to let it happen again. I'm going to be more careful," He tried.

I shook my head at him, "You don't get it Mathew. I trusted you. Everyone told me that I shouldn't spend time with you, that I would regret it. We can't be friends because I can't trust you."

"You can trust me," Mathew said quickly, "I know about your mom and I haven't said anything."

I was wrong, I might throw up again. "You know what about my mother?" I questioned him stoically.

Mathew could tell from my expression that I was not messing around, he spoke softly, almost whispering, "I know that she's human."

I didn't react, "Why would you think that?"

"It's the only thing that makes sense Paris. Your grandmother seems to care for you, in her own way. If your mother was a dhampir than I can see that she would have been upset, but it wouldn't have gone this far. I think that's why your mom didn't come with you. That's why you freaked out when you saw the feeders."

I closed my eyes trying to take a second to come up with a plausible rebuttal. For a guy that could act so dumb, he had remarkable reasoning skills.

"I'm not going to tell anyone Paris. I promise." Mathew looked at me sadly and took another step toward me. "I doesn't matter to me either way, I care about you."

I couldn't speak. To confirm his suspicions would be disastrous and I knew I wasn't a good enough lier to convince him. I looked him square in the eyes and tried a different approach, "Did you happen to mention this to my father?"

Mathew looked scared, "No way. He's a spirt user and I have no desire to be compelled to forget anything."

I nodded unsure how he knew that about my father, "I'm going to have to tell him about your deduction. It isn't a good idea to keep anything from him."

"Paris please, I don't want to forget you," Mathew looked resigned.

Before I could shut down his pleas there was a loud knock at the door. No one knew I was here, but maybe Paisley was coming to see why I freaked out.

I pulled open the door to see Mason's sweet smile. "You feeling any better sweetheart?" He said walking into the room. Taking one look at Mathew his smile turned murderous.

"Mason before you freak out I was just taking care of Paris. I know you're angry about last night, but was just leaving." Mathew spoke quickly and hustled out the door.

"What's going on Paris?" Mason hadn't calmed down. "Why would you let him in here?"

"Wait a minute Mason, start from the beginning." I placed my open palm on his chest to calm him, "How did you know I was in I wasn't feeling well."

Mason let out a long breath, "Paisley called me on your phone. Apparently when you ran out of the feeding room you dropped it," Mason held up my phone, "she said you were pale and you looked like you might faint. Paisley took off after you, but she said you practically disappeared. What were you thinking going in there with her?"

I covered my face with my hands, "When I ran out Mathew saw me and pulled me into the bathroom. He was friendly enough to hold my hair while I tossed my puked my guts out. He followed me back here and tried to explain about last night, but that's when you knocked on the door."

"Okay, but why did you go in with Paisley in the first place?" Mason asked skeptically.

I looked up at him sheepishly, "I didn't know that's where we were going."

It was quiet for a second, and then Mason surprised me. He broke out laughing hysterically and pulled me into his arms.