I looked away as if to prevent them from seeing tears forming in my eyes. Actually, they were forming. I'm good at this, I thought. I'm better than Ava ever could be because she's too hard-hearted to create any sympathy for herself. She'd laugh in the faces of those who tied her to the stake, the most feared and ancient way to rid the world of our kind.
"No wonder you ran off. Please, take as much time to eat as you want," Mrs. Winston said, her hand now pressed against her heart, tender with compassion. "We're in no rush here."
I hadn't realized how hungry I really was and was gobbling my food. Mrs. Fennel would say I was vacuuming it up from the plate. She'd give me a look so stern I would go into slow motion.
