Oh my goodness! I am so incredibly sorry this took so long to update. I wasn't spending the whole time on it, you see. I started this chapter straight after I updated the last, and then I kind of...lost motivation, and then life became so busy, but now it is slowing down again and I found time and motivation to complete this chapter. Please don't give up on me! Haha, I'll be away for the next 2 weeks but I will try my best to update after that, or even before I leave. I won't keep you waiting any longer, here it is!

Ness

My own blood stared back at me. Dark, like it was glaring at me. Angry at me, at who I'd become. And then it became me again as I dabbed my finger lightly into it, rubbing it over the wound on my neck.

I cringed at the stinging sensation brought on by whatever was in my blood fighting off the sore venom coating of his mark. The wound sealed over and went from a pale welt, smoothing down to normal again. I sighed shakily as the source of my blood for healing fleshed over itself, wiping my arm off with a towel.

He hadn't punished me as badly as I'd thought he would tonight. He'd fucked me a little too roughly and bitten me, but if he could read my thoughts I'm sure he would have done a lot worse. I couldn't stop thinking of Jacob, lucky I'd learnt to control my gift. Things used to slip from my mind out through my fingers by mistake all the time, but not anymore.

Though I could stop others from hearing my thoughts, I couldn't stop them from ringing in my own head. No one could block that out, no one could save me from myself.

"Why do you never like to leave my mark." He purred from behind me. I flinched at the startle of it, but my eyes remained downcast.

"Not anywhere visible." I murmured as he crouched down beside me.

I was a monster, but basically a baby one so other monsters scared me. Especially the one in control of my past, present and future. I couldn't really remember life before I'd been thrown into his hands in a hasty decision. I remembered it, of course, but not the feeling it gave me. I wasn't a little girl anymore. I was dark, evil and broken. Dangerous. But he'd been dangerous a lot longer then me, and I could feel all that darkness when it was inflicted onto me.

I'd adjust, I'd only been at this 10 years. I'm sure the feeling would shut off soon and killing would be easy, and I could enjoy it when he inflicted pain. We were supposed to shut it off, my family had just done things differently. My old family.

I had to learn to accept there was no need to fight it, we were meant to be monsters, soulless. So as soon as the scared, little girl inside of me realised that, I'd probably be more dangerous than Nahuel.

Yes, his name is Nahuel. He saved me from a clan called the Volturi when I was young. My mother had been fleeing with me when she ran into my aunt, Alice, Nahuel and his aunt, Huilen. My mother was worrying over my father and felt she had to go back to protect everyone with her gift. My Uncle Jasper was already with my father, so Alice had to go back too. Alice had thought my mother could trust me with Nahuel and Huilen, and back then she probably could. But something dark snapped inside of him when his aunt was caught and killed one night when we were hiding closeby to hear news from my family, which we never did. She'd kept his morals in tact, kept him from running free and letting his vampire side take over. They'd killed humans, but only when necessary. Other than that, they were kind and good. Then when she died, well I guess he let his vampire side take over once and for all. He didn't want to feel the pain. He blamed himself for both his mother and his aunt's death, and I blamed myself for her death too, and the attack on my family which I never knew the consequences of. We were close, at first, Nahuel and I. I kept him company and we understood each others pain, but day by day I saw him getting darker. It was gradual, the transformation into who he is today, but he was so hateful and wicked sometimes that I couldn't remember a time when I could look at him and not feel scared. I didn't know how he felt about me. Sometimes it was like he blamed me for what happened to Huilen, which I could understand. But then other times it's as if he never wants to lose me, and he gets possessive which makes me fear him more than the blame he inflicts on me.

Maybe it was New York. Mad with the freedom and advantages of immortality and eternal life, Nahuel decided to open a club, just because. It provided him with girls, a feed and money. It also provided me with a feed and protection. No one from the Volturi would ever look for us at a strip club in New York. Though, sometimes I kind of wish for some contact with the Volturi. I want to know what happened to my family that night.

Working is kind of my way of hunting. I lure my prey in with my dancing out in the club and then if they want me in the private rooms and they look free to take, then, you can guess what happens next. I still hated it, the killing. But, like I said, maybe I'll learn to shut everything off like Nahuel has done one of these days. But part of me doesn't want to shut it off, part of me wants the old Nahuel back.

Maybe when we left, in a few more years and started a new agenda, I'd see the old him. The sad, but kind sparkle in his teal eyes. I could only hope.

"I understand, baby." He lifted my chin with his finger and my eyes made contact with his teals that still made me shudder. So dark, so hollow inside, no love.

He leaned in and kissed me softly on the mouth, which then turned into him throwing me down and kissing me hard, not letting me come up for air yet.

Though I couldn't block off everything, I could block off the emotions behind sex if I wanted to. I could see it as a purely physically pleasurable thing and that way I enjoyed it, no heart in the game, no pain.

He broke our kiss, leaving me breathing quickly as he kissed down my neck, grazing his teeth but not biting. His hands roamed up my stomach, sliding over my breasts.

"So, why not leave it somewhere non visible." He purred, suddenly tearing my bra off.

I gasped as he bit down on the side of my breast, his venom shooting through the wound, stinging. Tears stung at my eyes and I bit my lip to control my whimpering, even though he loved the sound of pain. Venom didn't do anything to me since I was already half vampire, but it could still make a mark on my skin which I didn't know would be permanent or not and it still hurt like a bitch.

I gasped a breath of relief as he let go of my skin, my fingers still curled from the pain.

"Beautiful." He sighed, touching it a little too hard making me whimper again. He leant up and kissed me on my forehead. "Beautiful." He whispered again, stroking my cheek as he looked down at me with something I couldn't decipher. He always did that look, but I just didn't understand it.

"It didn't mean anything, you know...that Indian boy." I murmured as he stroked his thumb across my cheek. "He was just a customer."

I was lying so badly right now. Jacob had been so...different.

Nahuel eye's shadowed over and I instantly regretted my words. "That's not how you treat a customer. You know what you do to customers."

"I kicked him out. He was scaring me..." I lied.

"If he was scaring you why didn't you just kill the son of a bitch?" He growled.

"He was with someone." I explained.

"If he was with someone, why did you invite him in?" He hissed.

His hand ran down my neck, his fingers sliding over it. "I'm not allowed to have fun every once in a while?" I said more sternly.

His fingers pressed down on my neck, choking me slightly. "Not yet." He hissed again.

"Why? You don't trust me?" I choked, trying to remain stronger than I felt.

His grip loosened on my neck after a moment and he stroked my hair from my face. "You still need to...adjust." He whispered.

"No more punishment for you tonight, sweetheart. Come up to bed when you are ready." He said softly, kissing me gently. But it still had no love in it. I still felt like one of his things. He favoured me, but more like a favourite toy than a person. I suppose I did have no soul.

As he left me in that room, weak and vulnerable, like he had so many other times, I had something to hold on to this time. I thought it stupid, but I found myself hoping to see Jacobs face again. Something about him made me not want to shut everything off and I liked that. It hurt but it was good pain.

Jake

"So she's like 'Sethy, I don't think we should' and I'm totally cool, like, flashing her my sweet smile and all, 'Baby, I understand' and then she just fucking ravishes me. I tell you, you don't push 'em and they want your dick right then and there! Worked on Amber last week too...and Beth." Seth said, stabbing his fork into his meal.

"I don't know who these girls are." I shook my head, taking a bite of my burger.

"They're seniors." He raised his eyebrows.

"Seth!" I groaned.

"What? I still look 17!"

"You're 25."

"I am young at heart."

"No, you're just immature in the head."

"Whatever. I'm mature in the bed-department. Bet I've scored more than you."

I laughed. "You're such a manwhore, bro." I gave him kissy lips. "What happened to my sweet little Seth-cakes?"

He laughed, flipping me the bird.

"I dunno." He shrugged, chewing his food. "I mean, you should know by now after you had to hurt Sophie like that last week..."

Sophie still hadn't spoken to me. Well, of course not, it had only been a week since I'd broken up with her on our wedding night, what did I expect? But, I'd heard around that she still hated me. Which was good, in a way. I'd rather her hate me than hate herself. She'd done nothing wrong.

"I just don't see the point of being...tied down, if you're like us..." Seth murmured.

I sure felt tied down to this earth because of one particular girl now, and I loved it. As if my thoughts had reached the heavens, someone sent me an angel in that parlour right then. Vanenssa walked in, her reddish waves rolling down her shoulders and glinting in the sun. Wow. It was like it was in the movies...

"Until you actually are tied down." Seth finished, looking back from the door to me.

I cleared my throat, looking at Seth. "I get that." I nodded, trying way too hard to look like I wasn't trying not to stare at her as she sat down in the booth opposite the way I was facing. I bit into my burger again, pretending to have an unusual interest in looking at it.

Seth laughed. "No, dude, the only thing you get right now is the way her tits sit perfectly in that tight, little blue dress."

I glared at him and he held up his hands defensively. "I only speak the truth!"

"There's more to her than her body." I murmured quietly, and as I spoke her eyes flickered up to meet mine.

I looked down awkwardly.

Shit, she didn't hear that...right? No, she couldn't have. She was too far away.

A waitress came over to serve her and I listened in on Vanessa's sweet voice as she spook. "Hmmmm." She sighed. "May I please have a chocolate ice cream soda." She smiled at the woman. God, her smile alone was probably enough to cure cancer.

"Sure, hun." The woman smiled back.

"Thank you!" Vanessa chirped sweetly, her eyes crossing paths with mine.

I looked away again and I swore I heard a subtle laugh from her as she held her hand near her mouth.

I looked up, smiling and she looked away this time.

"I'm texting Leah. Maybe she can save me from you two eye fucking." Seth muttered.

"We're not!" I shot defensively causing Seth to snort.

"Dude, you are. It's making me uncomfortable, I'm in your line of sight." He said, moving around purposefully in front of me, blocking my vision to Vanessa briefly. "Eye rape!" He yelled causing me to lean across the table and smack him on the head.

"Ow! Child abuse!" He gasped, holding his head.
"Shut up." I laughed.

I glanced at her again and she glanced at me. This time, we didn't look away like awkward schoolchildren but, rather, held each other's eye for a moment.

Something in her eyes held me captivated. It wasn't just the fact I was drawn to her from the imprinting, I was actually drawn to her. I think even if I hadn't imprinted, I still would have noticed her. I still would have had a hard time staying away from her and falling for her.

I could tell from the other night when she'd kicked me out of that room, she was scared of something. And I wanted to find out what that was and try to fix it, or protect her from it. She had a smile in her eyes, but it was fading slowly, you could see. I wanted to keep it there and help it grow stronger. It was so beautiful, but it was slowly becoming clouded with fear and emptiness. Something as beautiful as that deserves to shine.

The waitress brought over her drink and I cleared my throat, looking away again.

"Damn, Leah is with her boss. I bet they are totally fucking." Seth nodded, putting his phone away.

"Just because you're obsessed with sex." I rolled my eyes, picking up a fry.

I glanced at Vanessa again and she was placing the cherry from the top of her drink onto her mouth.

She glanced at me and I could see a smirk behind her eyes as her lips slowly wrapped around the cherry.

Shit, I was a hypocrite. I just told Seth off for having sex on his mind too often. But this couldn't be helped. She was eating a fucking cherry! And she was doing it the way she was on purpose. She knew I was watching and I couldn't bring myself to look away.

She pulled the stalk out and smirked at me as she ate the cherry, looking up at me from behind her lashes.

I bet she could make any type of eating look sexy. She was stunning outside, and I had a feeling the outside reflected the inside that I wished so much to be shown. I wanted to know her.

The door opened behind her and she turned her head. It seemed she was always on the lookout. As she turned her head back, her mood seemed to have changed from fun and relaxed to scared and timid.

I looked up at the man who had walked in. He appeared to be in his late teens to early twenties. He had tanned skin and his black hair was messy. His presence seemed to intimidate Vanessa and I had an urge to go over and save her from him.

She slid to the other side of the chair as he seated himself beside her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder almost possessively. If she were mine, I would want to hold her too. But the way he did it...it was like he didn't trust her, as if her were forcing her to stay with him, to make it clear she was his. I didn't like it.

"Hello, my delicious pet." He purred to her. Now that I really didn't like.

He slid his finger under her chin, lifting her face to his and kissing her lips.

I looked away, fuming. Seth had noticed what was going on and he looked at me sympathetically.

"Why do you eat this crap?" The man laughed.

"I like to treat myself once in a while." Vanessa murmured.

"This isn't treating yourself." He said. "I have some delicious treats for you back at the club. That's treating yourself."

"Not today. I feel like this today." She said quietly.

The man then looked up at me and his eyes went fierce. I held his glare, reflecting much the same look on my own face. I felt like Western music should've started playing and we'd stand up, spinning our guns in our hands, then one of us'd pull our hats down as the other shuffled his boot on the ground preparing for a shoot off. I watched too much TV...

"We're leaving." He murmured

"What?" She said as he grabbed her arm, pulling her up, keeping eye contact with me. "No, I'm staying here."

His glare at me broke and he now glared at her. "Did you hear me? I said we're leaving." He hissed, and the way she gaped appeared as if he was holding her arm too tightly.

That was it. Who did this bastard think he was?

I stood up fast, catching Seth's attention. He didn't try to stop me, but he watched me warily.

I marched over to the guy and Vanessa, clearing my throat. "Excuse me, but I saw the way you just grabbed her and I don't think that kind of treatment to a woman is called for. Ever." I spoke straight out to him, keeping my glare.

He turned to me, glaring back daggers. "I don't think it's any of your business." He snarled.

I glanced at Vanessa who was looking back at me with wide brown eyes, shaking her head subtly as if to say don't do this.

But I wasn't going to let him treat her like this!

"I don't care, you don't treat a woman like that." I hissed back, my fists curling at my sides to contain my anger from bursting into a full on phase.

He slowly let go of his grip from Vanessa's arm, giving her a look that made her look away and silently gulp, before turning back to me and walking closer. Vanessa didn't seem to move, she just stood there like she was his obedient puppy. The way he treated her sickened me. I really wanted to save her now.

"I remember you, you came into my club the other night and went into a room with my girl, she said you scared her." I looked over at Vanessa who had her eyes glued to the ground, but I noticed her lips part a little. "She obviously doesn't want you, man, so I'd stop trying so hard if I were you. She's belongs to me." He hissed, which infuriated me to no end. He spoke about her as if she were his possession. She didn't belong to him, she belonged to no one, she was her own person. Everyone should have that right. I tried to keep my cool, but I could feel my hands shaking at my sides as I kept my glare with him. Even though he was about a foot shorter than me, the way he was staring at me was still intensely intimidating, he looked so twisted.

"No one belongs to anyone, man." I hissed back.

"She works for me, she belongs to me." He snarled. "Now I don't wanna see you, or your little friend here at my club or near my girl ever again."

My lips parted at his threat. How was I supposed to see Vanessa now unless I ran onto her on the street like I had just now, which was very unlikely in New York.

As if he wasn't already pissing me off enough, he gave me a little shove, pushing me over the cliff. I released the angry Jacob I had learnt to control, but I just couldn't around this bastard.

I swung my shaking hand up and collided it with his face. He stumbled back and held his face, seeming extremely shocked at the pain. I was about to go in for more but Seth grabbed me and, despite him being so much smaller than me, he was able to restrain me, leaving me nearly growling at the bastard I'd just clocked. "Jake, calm down!" Seth hissed as I glared after the guy, people in the diner staring and a waitress standing near the phone, ready to call the police if it became too out of hand.

It looked as though he was about to retaliate as he moved his hand from his face which looked surprisingly clean and unharmed from the amount of force I'd put into my punch, before Vanessa stood in front of him, holding her hands out. "We'll leave, we'll leave!" She seemed to be almost begging him as she touched his chest, causing him to stop in his tracks and look down at her.

He glanced up at me one last time, his green eyes bulging anger nearly out of their sockets. I pushed against Seth's strength one last time, giving up as I was still held back.

The guy slung his arm around Vanessa possessively again, practically dragging her out of the diner. I stared sadly after her, catching a glimpse of her brown eyes looking back at me, leaving me confused again, but longing after her still. I needed to save her, but did she even want saving? It didn't matter, that guy treated her like shit! I was saving her. Somehow...

My heart sunk as she disappeared from my sight, reminding me that this could be the last time I'd ever see her again. I couldn't let that happen. I had to see her again. I just had to.

So, yep. Him is Nahuel! Who guessed right? Hehehe. I apologise this chapter still hasn't exactly moved anywhere, but I have these little...sections of future chapter ideas I just type up sometimes and I assure you Ness and Jake will get their time. This chapter just proved how possessive Nahuel is and how stuck Ness is. Jake will come to the rescue! I have many cute and sexy plans ahead for them, just you wait! ;)

-Tay