What are you getting yourself into Suze? I shook my head as I pulled into the dirt driveway of the huge gated estate before me. Every idiot in the world by now knows that Paul would never invite me into this for any other purpose that doesn't involve selfishness. I sighed. All the same, I was curious, and it had been to my experience that left to his own devices, he found other ways to manipulate situations to suit himself- regardless of whether it involved me or not.

"Hello?" A stiff voice came from the speaker outside the gate.

"Oh, um, hi, I think Paul wants to see me."

"Mr. Slater?" He paused. "Yes, one moment, I think he did alert me a guest was coming by later today…"

I glanced around me as I fidgeted nervously in my seat. It was a beautiful property, the lush green acres stretching on for miles, the huge mountains in the distance looming over the flat fenced in land. In a perfectly positioned situation, an enormous white mansion stood directly in the middle. The dark, colonial looking architecture, the huge white pillars- it was the kind of place crawling with ghosts. I knew. People in old places tended to stick around a little longer, unfortunately.

"Yes, erm, Suze?" The man asked, unsure of my name clearly.

"Yep."

"I just called in and they confirmed you. Thank you for waiting, I appreciate your patience. This is a very private estate, you understand, so such things are protocol so that you know in the future."

"Oh, ok," I looked back at the house. Yes, obviously it was an old place and the chances of some dead folks floating around were likely, but I wondered what the living had to hide. Related to Paul- I'm sure there was a pretty good reason the security was high around here.

After about fifteen minutes of driving, that house seemed to get farther and farther away- and I sighed shortly. How big, exactly, was this place. At last, when I arrived, I was beyond impatient.

I came up to the door- but Paul was already there, leaning against the enormous black entrance lazily, blue eyes half closed, watching me. "Took you long enough."

"Oh shut up," I snapped, "Its not my fault the distance from the gate to your house takes up half the united states."

He shrugged. "Wealth has the luxury of space."

"Yeah well, given the expanse of room around here, keep yours from me." I reiterated.

"Yeah, I got the rules the first time." He said boredly, turning around. "Now are you coming in or not or are we going to have to go over your paranoia a few more times?"

I rolled my eyes. "You know, I'm giving you a break by even coming over here. Dealing with assholes like you are hardly something I look forward to."

"Giving me a break?" He asked, raising his eyebrows. "Oh well I am most grateful Ms. Simon, for allowing me the gracious gift of your presence."

I blushed. "Just show me whatever it is you wanted to."

He opened the door without a word, and let me pass before closing it with a finality that made me shiver. Inside, the house was more grandiose than I had imagined. Marble floors, glistening diamond chandeliers and gold accents sparkled magnificently from every angle.

"Isn't this a little Glamorous for Lame Deer Montana?"

He turned to me. "Not for royalty."

I snorted. "Royalty."

"Around here, that's the most accurate term." He ran a hand through his glossy ink-black curls, smirking.

I looked around. "Well I'm sure you like that Paul." It was true. Superiority, power, was important to him in a way I could never understand.

"I don't know what you're trying to suggest by that," He said mockingly, but his blue eyes were focused ahead, absent. He took my arm, leading me forward, but I shrank away from his iron grasp.

He glanced at me boredly. "Really, Suze, are you that afraid of me?"

I looked down. I knew I was. There was that coldness, that strange cruelty in Paul that sent icy sharpness down my body in ways I could hardly understand.

"I think you're afraid of something else," He said, watching me. I shifted uncomfortably.

"Paul." A man's voice said, the cold, cruel authority in his voice running bumps up and down my skin.

Paul turned us around, face serene and emotionless. "Uncle."

"Who's your guest?"

I turned around. At the top of the enormous marble staircase, a tall, thin man with coal-black, slicked back hair and the same pale blue eyes stared down at us, his eyes filled with a steady, alien iciness that was worse than Paul's by a thousand times. This man scared me so thoroughly I found myself slightly dizzy. Paul caught my waist, pulling me in towards him. I didn't resist, I was so shaky. There was something so wrong in the air, something horrible and awful was protruding from that man. My vision shook, a terrible ringing in my ears.

"Her name is Suze." Paul said calmly. "She's my…friend."

His uncle looked down at me, and suddenly those slicing sapphire eyes met mine. My skin crawled and I felt my stomach drop. Dark, strange mercury-like liquid seemed to blur the edges of my vision.

"Uncle." Paul said, and his voice was strangely sharp, as if he were warning him. I looked at him, my body still shivering uncontrollably, and suddenly the spell was gone. I looked at Paul's beautiful, baby-blue eyes, and a comfort overcame me. I sighed, leaning forward into him, exhausted. His lips grazed my jaw as he leaned down close to my ear and my skin burned icily. "Suze, careful."

I snapped back out of my daze, and straightened, embarrassed, but Paul didn't let go of me, his arms tightening around me waist as he looked up the stairs.

His uncle was staring at me perculiarly, an oddly curious smile on his lips. "Hmm. Invite your friend to stay for dinner." He turned around, leaving back up the stairs.

I turned to face Paul. "You can let go of me now."

He sighed, releasing me.

I waited until I was sure we couldn't be heard. "Paul what happened?"

"What?" He blinked innocently.

"Don't 'what' me," I snapped irritably. "Something strange happened back there and you sure as hell better spare me the clueless thing and explain some things."

He smiled crookedly, cocking his head. "Lets just say he was trying to get to know you, and your body put up a fight."

"He's…?"

"Not like us." He said calmly. "Different- but he has the same base."

"Well, I don't like him I don't think." I said angrily. "What was he doing to me?"

"Later, I'll explain everything." He smiled. "But you collapsing in my arms was worth-while."

"Paul-"

"Shh," He put a finger to my lips, blue eyes flashing. "You're going to do that stupid resistance shit again."

I glared at him until he turned away from me, laughing. "I'll wait for you, Suze, until you can't resist anymore." He looked back, smirking. "I think we both know whats waiting for us this summer."

I crossed my arms. "Paul, I swear to God, I don't want you. I never will. The deal is you don't lay a hand on me- ever. If you're going against that-"

"Quiet." He turned his back on me, walking towards a dark, scarcely lit hall. "You're not convincing anyone so I suggest you try to convince yourself first."

I glared at his back. "I hate you."

"You know, as long as you're passionate about me, I could care less what word you choose."

"I can't even stand being around you longer than a few minutes. You drive me crazy."

"Your ranting is boring," He said flatly, "Are we done with this yet?"