Dejected, I opened the door an inch to see that the five novices in front of me included Eddie, and another guy. The other three were girls. The worst thing was the way they stared at me in confusion and horror as I opened the door again.
"Go in then," I muttered, trying to make it sound less like a growl.
"Don't, don't. She's Strigoi!" one of them hissed, as if I couldn't here.
As if it was impossible that I would hurt them - I wish. Hearing the sound of footsteps, running towards here, I raised an eyebrow.
"Either come in, or get the Hell out."
Eddie stared at me crticially, as if assessing how much normality was left in me. When my glare softened, he nodded quickly and they all filed into the room, sitting as far away from me as possible.
"We're only here because it seemed safer than out there," Eddie said, a few minutes later, to me as if I still cared about strategy.
"One exit." I murmured and he looked confused.
"You're an idiot. There's only one exit, alright? And look - you're stuck in here with me now, so aren't you an idiot?" They all slunk back against the wall terrified.
"Only one exit, what about the window?" Eddie finally said, a minute or two later.
"The window?" Then I realised something. It was light outside. If they wanted to escape, to rid themselves of a Strigoi danger, then all they would have to do was...
I glanced over to Eddie and knew that he too had realised this. He shook his head sadly and stared at me, mouthing "Mason" as if conveying a more secret message.
"You know what happened... with Mason? Rose it wasn't your fault, you know. It was the damn Strigoi!" Eddie had hissed and I had shook my head angrily.
"Of course it's my fault, it was my fault."
He shook his head. "No it wasn't. And I swear to you, I'll get revenge on Strigoi some day. Some day... But first I'll make it up to you, the fact that I was useless then..."
I frowned, unsure if I understood his message. Was he trying to tell me that destroying me, was his revenge, or that he would let me live - to keep his promise?
A loud noise broke me away from my thoughts and I stood up uneasily. "Stay there." I warned the novices, before heading towards the door. And standing outside there was the person who I once... cared about.
Dimitri.
Somehow, still managing to scream, I slammed the door behind me, went back inside and leaned against the door.
"Who was it?" Eddie asked tensly, clutching a stake. I raised an eyebrow.
"Why aren't you staking me?"
He stammered something and then shrugged unsure.
"That was... Dimitri. He's the one who made me Strigoi, in case anyone actually cares. And I hate him for it..." I leant against the door that was now threatening to be pulled from its hinges.
"You can't hate being Strigoi. That's impossible. They go mad and then..." he trailed off as there was another loud thump on the door.
I knew it couldn't hold much longer....