Disclaimer: I don't want profit, just entertainment.

Authors Notes: A big thanks goes out to the few who reviewed; you inspired me to update early. I love feedback, especially complementary ones. Another thing I wanted to comment on was that I think plots for Night World get-togethers are a little too simple. I wanted to write something a bit more complicated. So read on before you think "RAPE?"

Author: J.A.K *hope you like*

Rating: PG-13 (for situations and language)

AngelD: Thank you for reviewing. Believe me when I say I won't keep you in suspense.

Sitara: I'm glad I conveyed her emotions so well. I know you might think.rape? But hold on and read on.

firechild: Thanks for reviewing and I hope I can update soon.

Enough of my blabbering...on with the story!

#Chapter One#

The jury had gone on to find him innocent. Too much circumstantial evidence they had said. He had been escorted out of the courtroom by his bodyguards, or whoever those men were that were dressed in all black. He had been given leave by the power of the State of New York.

One of the more devastating things about the outcome of his verdict was that I had always loved my city; all 5 boroughs. I wasn't born but bread in Queens. My relatives were scattered throughout the Bronx. Some of my closest friends lived in Brooklyn and Staten Island. And Manhattan- well-that was my hangout spot. My old high school was located on the upper west side, and it had-in turn- lead me to my sanctuary which was in the village.

Always I had grown up with the belief that New York City was unbeatable, that it truly was the best city in the world. I grew up with the certainty that NYC was the greatest and most diverse place to live in.

But on that day- the day the State of New York found him innocent- that was the first day my New York had ever failed me.

Three months after the trial ended, I found myself in Banana Republic, looking for a few complementary summer outfits, but actually desperately hoping to get the ordeal out of my system. As I reached over to pick up a cute black and white halter-top, I saw the face that I swore I would never see again.

I stood still for a moment, unsure of what to do; unsure of what my body would do. I was trembling from repressed rage and simple unvented emotion. He was staring at me with an expression that said: out of all the places in the world, why did you have to be in here.

Well I felt the same way.

I put the top down and in 3 quick strides, was in his face.

"You," I whispered. "Don't they have signs on this store that say 'No Rapists Allowed'?"

Seeing him standing there and placed under his watchful eyes, I felt for the second time that my New York had failed me. It was bad enough that they had found him innocent, but how could they have let him get access to a place where people lived and shopped.

Even as he glared at me with those unforgiving eyes, I surprisingly felt no fear whatsoever.

Maybe if I had known then what I knew now, I would have been just a little bit scared, because—if nothing else—he  was much worse than a rapist.

"I am not a rapist," he spat. "And I really don't appreciate having my nose broken by some hu-" he halted "by some woman."

Truly shocked that he could think for a moment that I cared about what he appreciated I replied:

"And I'll break it again if you get any closer to me." Feeling the rush of sweet adrenaline loosen my already loose lips, I continued to speak with a false sense of bravado.

"Did you think I was playing around when I said I would kill you?" I stepped closer to him. "One day when they find the body of a six foot three white male with green eyes, I'll confess…it was me. And then the police will say: 'That's okay miss, we understand- you killed a rapist- he's not actually a person, so technically what you did doesn't qualify as a crime.'"

His eyes had flared faintly, as if he wasn't used to being spoken to like that.

"You better be careful of what you say little girl. I might just take that as a threat." He bared his teeth slightly, as if to intimidate me.

"Shut Up."

He watched me with a face that silently asked me if that was the best I could come up with.

"That's right, you heard me. And as for taking what I said as a threat, well you can take it anyway you'd like to take it."

Seeing the absolute indignation that arose in his eyes, truly made my day complete. I turned, satisfied for the moment that I had gotten the last word with that monster.

Only until rational thought replayed in my mind what had just transpired, did I begin to panic slightly.

'Why did you just engage in conversation with that scum?' I asked myself. 'Just leave.'

As I started walking back towards the top, prepared to pay for it, I felt an arm swing me around. It was him again.

Oh My God.

The same fingers that he'd used to force himself on my sister were wrapped around my forearm.

"Get your filthy hands off of me," I wrenched my arm out of his grip.

I became aware of the fact that his eyes were now astringent, and had dilated to a point that was almost ridiculous. A slight tint of silver colored his irises as his jaw clenched.

"Do you have any idea under God's green earth who you're speaking to?"

"If you mean a rapist? Yeah. I figured that part out 5 months ago. If you mean someone seemingly important enough that they need bodyguards to protect them" I rolled my eyes, noncommittally "then I really don't give a flying fuck."

He stepped closer, adding to his height.

"You bitch," he began clenching and unclenching his fists. Looking at his hands, I noticed for the first time that he wore a ring. The same ring my sister had spoken about all those months ago. His hand flipped over and I saw the identifiable black rose.

"Nice ring." I half- pointed accusatorily at him. "I love the meaning behind-"

He folded his arms, cutting off my sentence with his own words.

"You love the meaning, you say?" His eyebrows lifted a bit, and that familiar arrogant grin was plastered on his face once again. "Well tell me then. What does it mean?"

"It means you're not from the human world."

His arms loosened and hung at his sides, and he looked slightly startled. "Then educate me. If I'm not from the human world, which world am I from exactly?"

"That's easy." I said, bitterness lacing through every word as if it was a familiar friend. "You couldn't be from the human world because- well…you're from the jackass world." I narrowed my eyes. "That is the exact same ring my sister told us about. Why didn't you wear it during the trial? Wait- I know why. You knew that the judge would find you guilty."

I knew the chances of the juries' decision being changed on the account of a simple ring were slim to none, but I just wanted something to throw in his face.

"I don't need these false accusations told to me by some low class, low breed, untrained fool. I'm getting the hell out of this city."

"If you can, get out of the state too and make New York a better place"

He took out what looked like a cell phone walkie- talkie. "Bring the car around and tell Thierry that I'm going to be a bit late."

And that should have been it. He should have left the store, and I should have been left there thinking about the injustices of our legal system.

But no.

Before he exited the store, I chanced taking a glimpse into his eyes. And a glimpse though it was, I really looked into them. I saw what appeared to be a storm brewing, complete with clouds and rain. Then I felt a deep suction and almost physical paralysis as I stared further. For about 9 tenths of a second I had a quick peek into his soul. And inside that monsoon I saw that what he spoke was indeed the truth.

…but there was no way. My sister had seen his face; hell, she even saw that peculiar ring. There wasn't anything to question.

It had just been a long day I told my self. Too much stress was all.

That had to be it, because, as I stood there staring in shock at the back of his retreating form, the only thought that could formulate in my irrational mind was:

'He didn't do it'.

An 2: Reviews are greatly appreciated and muchly adored!