Notes: 2 more months have elapsed since chapter 4 in the 'verse.

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The moonlight streamed in through the large windows at the top of the staircase as River lightly descended, her soft breath fogging before her. Everything was still at the late hour, dead and empty as the black.

However, life had deserted this place long before nightfall.

The empty shell River moved in carried her to the kitchen, a darkness beckoning to her, waiting to be possessed. The metal scraped against the block as she set it free and held it behind her back.

With abnormal stealth, she passed soundlessly through the dining hall, the foyer and down the several steps into the living space where he slept. Standing over him, she looked down upon his bare chest and exposed jugular. Taking the blade from behind her back, she pressed its tip against his throat and swiped it across in one swift motion.

Marcus's eyes snapped open as thick, red blood squirted from his throat, spraying River with a fine sheen. With inhuman speed he was upon her and she was thrown back against the opposite end of the couch, the blade she had attacked him with pressed steadily against her own delicate throat.

River looked at Marcus challengingly, tilting her pale neck back, ready and willing for his vengeance. He stared into the defiance of her eyes, ever so tempted. It was like dangling a bleeding man in front of an emaciated vampire.

He could feel the heat of her body beneath his, her little heart pounding with expendable life. The desire to end it was carnal, but something about her compliance puzzled him, causing him to hesitate.

River reached past the knife and ran her finger over the fatal wound she had inflicted, finding that it had healed. His skin was seamless, slippery and coated in fresh blood. Rubbing the substance between her fingers, she examined it curiously, and whispered as if only to herself. "You bleed." She then looked up from her fingers and into his blues with question. "Did it hurt?"

Marcus couldn't figure out if the girl had a death wish or if she was performing her own little scientific experiment. Perhaps it was both. "I feel very little." he responded dryly.

"But you do feel. And bleed." River looked into his eyes, her lips curling slightly. "Working parts."

Marcus looked down at her, slightly mystified by her agenda. He didn't like being analyzed. He was what he was. There was no reason to dig further. "What is it that you want?" He moved his eyes from her to the blade, its shine piercing the dim space. "There are more civil ways to initiate conversation than slashing at one's throat, you know."

River grinned cheekily. "Got your attention."

Marcus couldn't help but smile. It was possible he was rubbing off on her yet. Pulling the knife from her throat, he sat up and surveyed the bloody mess drenching the girl and his furniture. His smile grew as he admired the horrific sight. "You almost look pretty covered in my blood."

River's face dropped in confusion at his words, fading back into herself. She looked down alarmingly at the bright red spatter. Bringing her spotted hands in front of her face, she went into full-fledged panic mode. "Get it off!" she shrieked and began to pull and tear at her clothing to free herself of the dreadful crimson."

Or maybe not. Marcus sighed. He was too exhausted to deal with another one of her fits. Standing, he threw the girl over his shoulder and headed upstairs to the bath. Along the way, she kicked and flailed about, going on about eyes and fingers that bleed.

Setting her down next to the tub, he filled it while she continued to mutter.

Tugging at her clothing, he tried to remove it as she squirmed about, frantically trying to convince him that they were coming. Ignoring her rants, he scooped her up and tossed her in, the water nearly spilling over the sides of the deep basin as she hit.

River went under and then reemerged, gasping for air while the water around her turned pink. Marcus looked down at her shocked expression and inquired after her mental state. "Back from the moon?" River wiped the water from her eyes and just blinked at him.

Snickering, he moved to the shower, shedding his boxers, and stepped in to wash away the mess she made. As he let the hot blast pound against his skin, he pondered the girl's recent violent progression. He had read her files, knew what she was, what they had made her. The question was, did she? Marcus smiled as he considered triggering her. The curiosity to experience her full potential was like a wet dream. They could play on a more equal field. If he went easy, of course.

Marcus looked over at River, who was trying to figure out how to get the cap off the shampoo bottle. Turning it upside down, she shook it vigorously, a look of adorable confusion donned on her face.

Ah, she was so deliciously innocent and unaware of her murderous actions just minutes before. Watching her have to realize fully that she was a killer, a paradox, just might be the most enjoyable experience for him yet.

No. She wasn't ready. As much as he longed to break her, it would defeat the purpose.

River gave up on the shampoo and turned in the bath, peeking her eyes over the rim of the tub, curiously dissecting the picture before her. Clearly defined through the glass door, there was a man, but not, all muscles and sinew covered in millions of drops of liquid matter.

A blush spread over her submerged skin as her eyes traveled south, growing even wider upon each new discovery.

Logically her brain saw pieces and parts, but corporally, her body reacted to the way his large hands moved as he lathered his skin, hard curves and soft, awaking the primal part of her.

She had felt this way before, traces in dreams, but only faintly. It was a warm, nervous aching, amplified by the visual, and she didn't know how to ease the phenomenon, make it stop.

Turning back around quickly, she laid her head back against the tub and caught her breath as her hands slid instinctively between her legs to where the ache was.

It was dark and churning in her mind as she moved her small hands, giving in to wicked thoughts the monster made her have. The sensation of warm water and friction amplified the sensation, growing, growing until everything was white. River bit her lip to hold back the voice that wanted to scream as her whole body went weak.

Opening her eyes slowly, languorously, she found that Marcus was standing over her smirking. "What are you doing?"

River sat up quickly, crossing her arms to cover her breasts, her face still flushed, and refused to look at him. "Eyes are invasive. Please avert."

Marcus chuckled as he turned around, searching for a towel to hand her. "Since when did you become bashful?"

River stuck out her chin as she lectured him. "I would like to bath myself from now on." Snapping the towel from him as he offered it, she grew more flustered at his look of amusement. "You shouldn't see me."

Marcus bowed, ogling any exposed flesh with a wicked smile, blatantly invading her sense of newfound privacy as he spoke. "As you wish."

River shivered as he left the bathroom. She felt a change coming over her like a growing storm.

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When she entered the bedroom attired in a soft, sea-green robe, she found that Marcus was already in the bed, on the side where she normally slept. River tried to swallow the lump growing in her throat as she tried to rationalize the large, blanketed lump.

Marcus turned and looked over his shoulder at her. "I hope you don't mind. Can't very well sleep where I was, can I?" Marcus patted the spot next to him. "Come, the bed's nice and warm." Then off her look of dread he added, "Not to worry, princess. I don't bite, much." Rolling back on his side, he instructed further, "Oh, and please turn off the light."

After River did just that, she walked cautiously to the opposite side of the bed, half expecting Marcus to spring up and attack. Pulling back the comforter, she quickly jumped in with her back to him and pulled the blanket up over her head.

Marcus laughed. Ah, this was too much fun. "What? You're not even going to say good night?" His smile deepened in the dark and he wondered if he'd ever been this easily amused before.

River pulled the blanket from over her head and glared at him, he was taunting her. Embarrassment gripped her body and she wondered if he knew she'd had thoughts about him. Sticking her nose up in the air, she replied superciliously. "Goodnight, fiend."

Marcus shook his head in disapproval. "That's not what I meant." The look he gave her chilled her to the bone. "Want you to kiss me goodnight."

River's eyes widened as she sat up abruptly and looked at him, horror-stricken. Gratification in tormenting her was at the forefront of his mind and she could read nothing beyond that in his intentions.

Determined not to be intimidated, River relaxed her shoulders, placing her hands on the bed, and leaned towards him.

Marcus watched her with a satisfied look in his eyes. She was becoming such an obedient little thing.

Dipping her head down, River hesitated, picking up his familiar scent; raw, potent, visceral sex, and suppressed a shudder. Touching her lips to his cool skin, she gave his cheek a quick peck and pulled away, scampering back to her side of the bed.

"Am I really that vile?" Marcus queried, still amused. He had finally found a button that worked. "You didn't even give me a chance to return the gesture."

River held her breath, wary of the direction this was headed. She had to do something to head him off or he'd spend the rest of the night relishing in his games. His kind had no boundaries.

Propping herself up on her elbow, she looked at him unwaveringly. "Ok. But you have to mean it."

Marcus almost laughed when he saw that she was serious. "You don't get to make up the rules, little girl."

"Thought you'd appreciate the challenge." River cocked her head, her long, damp hair splaying across the white bed sheets. "An unfeigned kiss."

Marcus scowled. He could make a nun quiver in her garb but the girl would know if he was faking it. Messing with a reader was proving to be increasingly difficult. Every time he had her where he wanted her, she came back twofold. It was really becoming quite aggravating. He had always been the master of power play. "How about I turn down your little challenge, and ruin your perfectly childish fantasies anyway?"

River smiled as if she knew something he didn't. "What's the point if you cant feel its power?" Lying back down, she tucked her hands underneath her face, like she'd already won. "You are all strength and no truth, Marcus Hamilton."

He didn't know whether to hit her or prove her wrong.

The fact that she was using his full name with the same arrogance he often exuded did not escape his notice either. The girl wasn't as weak as he had initially presumed. Somehow through his irritation a spark of respect flickered, but he kept it at an ember. There were very few in any dimension that could obtain it, if any.

Marcus pushed himself up and bent down towards the girl, planting a chaste kiss on her check, and then moved next to whisper throatily in her ear. "Goodnight, River Tam."

TBC