"Denis Washington," He introduced himself with a charming, deviously handsome smile that was charismatic but retained indecipherable eerie depths. I smiled back nervously.

"And who is our beautiful guest?" He asked, his smile remaining but his pale blue eyes as cold as ice- staring with a probing curiosity that I found mildly uncomfortable, but nothing like that unearthly stare from earlier

"Like you don't already know," Paul muttered wryly, and I turned to stare at him. Why would he say that? Unless I had some striking resemblance to Uncle Barry-- which I fervently hoped I did not!!- I didn't see any reason that Paul's uncle would already know me.

"Susannah Simon." I said, pleased with how even my voice sounded. I let out a small breath.

We had been 'summoned' to the great hall- a huge expanse of marble and silver- which had nothing in it but a long, elaborately carved table that seated around forty people. From there I realized we were expected to eat dinner- I balked, by the way, but Paul basically picked me up and forced me into the chair- which we were eating awkwardly at one extreme end of the table. I couldn't help but look down the thirty seven other chair places, each one empty and haunting, and be struck with the creepiness of how lonely it was.

"Suze." Paul corrected smoothly- it took me a moment to realize he wasn't calling me- he was telling his uncle what he thought was the better use of my name. Oh.

"Suze Simon." The words seemed strange and commanding in Denis Washington's mouth, and he turned towards me, those piercing sapphire eyes glowing like coals, searing straight through to my soul. I looked down quickly, letting out a shaky exhale.

My skin was crawling. How could someone be so…creepy? Alien? I didn't know a word for him- other than indescribable.

"And how is Barry and his lovely wife?" He asked, his voice edged with a razor sharpness that I didn't miss.

I dared a glance up from my soup bowl- he was swirling his wine in the glass, with a small, devilish smile playing on perfect lips, pale blue eyes fixated on the swirling crimson liquid.

I resisted a shiver. "Oh yeah they're good." I swallowed.

Paul rested his hand lightly on my knee- and I shifted instantly, shooting him a dark look.

He smiled angelically, but I could see the small little flash of confused frustration. Who did he think he was? I was surprised at how angry I was that he touched he me so easily- that he thought he had permission to do that whenever. Okay, whatever, so we hooked up a few times, and it was good. Alright, maybe a little better than good. Fine, so it was-

"Perfect." Paul's uncle smiled, never looking up.

Perfect? I blinked. Oh, I'd said my family was doing well. And he'd replied-

Perfect. Like he was giving their happiness a gold star for approval.

"Yes, its wonderful," Paul muttered disinterestedly, and started toying with a lock of my hair. What was he doing? God knows I hadn't even thought about Jesse at all in the past twenty minutes- a record! Surely this was all deteriorating fast, and I was letting it. I promised myself I would not even touch Paul this summer- least of all kiss him. And let him kiss me.

And kiss my neck.

And, touch my hair-

And-

Shit.

"So you are staying the night?" Denis asked me very suddenly, and his icy blue eyes poured into me, plummeting into my veins like glass shards. It was as if he was holding on to me with no hands, opening my mind and fixating me into helplessness- free to do whatever he liked.

I suddenly found it very hard to speak. "Umm," I wracked my brain. Think, Suze, think. You can't let him win. "Why would I stay?"

"The pass. It has fallen."

"Excuse me?" I asked, wondering what the hell he was talking about now.

"The storm outside- it has flooded the roads- and it has felled the pass between the mountains- a landslide, my dear, has blocked the way out." He simplified for me, cool and removed, unaffected by the words he was saying.

"Storm?" I cried, "What storm?"

I got up quickly, my chair squealing, nearly tripping over myself as I exited the room- flying to the nearest window in the hallway- black, ominous clouds concealed the sky, mud squirmed below, at least four feet of water rippling against the base of the house.

Paul appeared beside me, staring out with an unreadable expression. "This is my uncle's doing." He murmured quietly. "He must want you here."

"What? So he can control the weather now?" I demanded loudly.

"Shh," He put a finger to my lips, smirking. "I doubt you need to alert the entire house, Suze."

"Its a fucking hurricane out there," My French tumbled out of my mouth carelessly, but I couldn't help it. I was suddenly a prisoner to Mr. Washington, and it wasn't sitting well with me. "A hurricane, Paul!"

"I know." He shrugged. "His powers…are extensive."

The admiration in his voice wasn't concealed.

I scowled furiously. "Well, I'm sure you're happy!"

"Why would I be?" He asked me flatly, already dismissive.

God. Barry! My Aunt! They were probably going to have a heart attack!

"Yeah, I'm sure you're just furious that I have to stay trapped in your house."

"I actually hadn't thought about it." He answered me coldly. "But your faith in my character clearly makes up for it."

"Clearly," I turned away.

Suddenly his arms were around my waist, constraining, and his lips were at my ear. "You'll come to me tonight," He said, his voice low. "Today was the start. You can't act like nothing's changed."

I stomped on his feet, hard, and he released me, much to my satisfaction.

"You asshole." I hissed. "Tonight- my only plans are to lock my doors- and to call Jesse."

His eyes flickered, before he settled into a satisfied sneer. "Well, you can try, Suze, but let me remind you that phone reception isn't fantastic in a hurricane."

I opened my mouth- but alas, I was at a loss of words. So with that, I turned around, stomping away in my new heels, careless that with the force I was imposing on them they might break on the marble- fluffing my hair, standing up straight, and doing what I do best:

Discarding Paul Slater.

With as much dignity as I could muster.