I don't remember how we got to his home. Whether that was his doing or the fact that I was still in shock, I'm not sure. I vaguely recall thinking that his apartment was nice, though far too normal for something like him. Of course, by apartment, I mean huge fucking palace-home but that's neither here nor there.

Isaac led me straight through the place, down a hallway and into a large marble bathroom. By then he had to practically carry me, because my legs had started to shake so badly I couldn't stay up on my own. The vampire leaned me against one of the counters and turned to a shower fit for a party. I've never really found the reason for making them so large. I certainly wasn't planning any mixers in one of the things.

"Take off your clothes." Despite how soft the command was, it still made me stiffen and wrap my arms around myself. Though it wouldn't stop him. If he could rip off a human arm, fabric would stand no chance.

My stomach rolled at the thought of Everett and I groaned. Isaac, arching an irritated brow, took hold of my upper arms and walked me toward the shower anyway.

"If you want to get them wet, then do it. Makes no difference to me."

The moment the water hit me, I closed my eyes. Out in the rain, I'd run to him like the idiot I was. Toby had told me the vampires were nothing but sociopathic monsters. They enjoyed the killing sometimes more than the actual meal, but I'd ignored it. I'd attested his hatred for them to the loss of his fiancé. I'd told myself he was just bitter and blinded by fury and loss, but it seemed I was the blind one here. God, I was so stupid.

My eyes fell to the water rolling off my skin. It was staining the porcelain at my feet red, but I'm sure a vampire would have the knowhow to clean away such things. Again my stomach threatened to climb up out of my throat.

Isaac, leaving the fogged glass door open, reached in to brush the sticky hair from my face. His fingers came away crimson, and when he caught me starring at them, he put his forefinger between his lips with a smile.

"Well, now I'm starving." He chuckled, then harder when I drew away from him, covering my throat. "Oh, calm down, Mira. I won't eat you." Then he tilted his head, "Maybe just a taste."

"Don't touch me."

Again the monster laughed, shaking his head. "My, aren't we skittish." He turned toward the towel rack beside the shower stall where a thick grey robe hung over the bar. "Change into this when you've finished. We can worry about proper clothing tomorrow."

I nodded, only to get him to leave. Once the bathroom door had shut, my shoulders sagged and I took a deep shaky breath, releasing it with a sob. Thankfully the water hid my tears, if he had returned, but it could not cover the crying. Eventually, I fell to my knees, pressing my forehead into the cool porcelain.

I was just as much of a monster as he was. If I'd just closed the door, or told the others what was happening. Maybe…but no. Deep down, I knew that Isaac could have made me invite him. He could slip into human minds, pulling thoughts and emotions to the surface you'd never even known you had. If it hadn't been me, he would have glamoured one of the others, then killed me for my refusal. Knowing this didn't salve my guilt however. I was still his accomplice. Still a traitor.

I remained in the shower as long as I could, until the water had returned to clear, leaving only the pinkish stain against the white. My sobbing had faded to the occasional hiccup as I turned off the water and stepped out. Wary of the closed bathroom door, I peeling the ruined clothes from my body and pulled on the robe, not bothering to ring out my hair. It didn't really matter.

"Finally." Isaac sighed throwing open the door as if he'd been waiting outside. Most likely he had just heard the water and flashed across the apartment. The vampire quickly wrapped his arm around my waist and walked me from the bathroom. My fingers instinctively went to the front of the robe, pulling it closed. If he noticed, he said nothing.

The living room was warm and furnished tastefully. Dark leather couches and an armchair. There was a flat screen plasma TV mounted above the stone fireplace, already crackling away. When had apartments started having fireplaces? Isaac sat me down on the biggest couch and sank down next to me. He propped his black boots onto the coffee table, crossing them at the ankles and stretched his arms across the back of the couch. Completely at home, the nights earlier activities apparently forgotten. The idea that he could dismiss such things so easily only made me nervous. How many times had he done this?

"So." He said cheerfully, lifting a remote. "Any preferences?"

"We're going to watch TV?" I asked harshly, glaring at his dark jeans. He had long legs, framed appealingly by the denim. His build was lean but muscular. Everything about the monster from his stylishly cut raven black hair to his long, ringed fingers was impressive. He was the perfect predator, attractive and deadly.

I wanted to set him on fire.

"Unless you have any other suggestions?" The comment wasn't sexual, but I took it as such, sliding down the couch away from him. For a moment, his eyes flashed with hostility, but the emotion vanished almost before I could catch it.

"Your friends killed countless numbers of my kind and others for their crimes against humanity. I was doing the same."

"You slaughtered them!" I cried. How could he even compare the two? "And they defended all the helpless people they could find so that you and your friends couldn't make them into diner and a show."

"I do not expect you to understand." He sighed flipping to TV onto some late night talk show. "It's done. There's no use arguing about this now."

Son of a bitch. If I'd had a spine, I might have tried to claw his beautiful eyes from his face. But even now, I did not want to die. Feeling pathetic, I turned my gaze to the television, not seeing a thing.

What would I do now, I wondered? There was no question that I could stay here as he'd offered. Become a lifeless bloodbag for the bastard. I'd met a few Shadows in my time. The poor individuals who pledged themselves to the first vampire they could find and allowed them to fed whenever they pleased. These people almost always died quickly. Lasting weeks, at the most. I could not become that. Not to him. Not to any vampire.

For a while we sat in silence. Content to ignore one another, until Isaac grew bored and turned to me. I could feel his gaze like a steady burn against my skull. At first, I tried to ignore it, but then a pain, like the beginnings of a migraine began to pound in my head, and I was forced to turn to him.

"What?" I bit the word out, making him smirk. He was closer now, though I hadn't seen or felt him move.

"Just curious." He replied, searching my face for…something. He must not have found it because he sighed. "I wonder how long you will be able to hold on to this hostility."

"Hold your breath, I'll let you know."

"Well, if I needed to breathe…" he let the comment trail off then lifted his hand to curl a strand of my hair around his finger. I glared at him, teeth clenched, wishing more than anything that I had the power to do to him what he'd done to my friends.

"There's nothing you could ever do to me that would cause any reaction but loathing."

"Not a great quality in a Shadow." He shrugged.

"I am not your Shadow, Isaac."

His lips curled into a wicked smile then, and he pulled tight the lock of hair until I hissed in pain.

"We'll see."

Then, without warning, I was moving. He pulled me down the couch until I lay back against the arm, pinning me there with his body. I drew a breath to scream, but he released my hair to cover my mouth. His lips brushed my ear, grazing it with his teeth. To my disgust, the act shot chills down my spine. I kicked at him, tried to shove him back, but the creature was too strong. He nudged my head to the side and continued his nibbling down the column of my throat.

"No!" I cried, but it was muffled beneath his palm. He chuckled against my skin, the cool air rose goosebumps down my arms. He might not need to breathe, but perhaps it was habit from his human life, however long ago that was. Whatever the case, I didn't like him so close to my veins. Memories of him tearing out Michael's throat and spitting it to the floor flashed through my mind, making me frantic. I felt it when his fangs slid down from their sheaths to graze my neck. He was playing with me. Had to be. He'd promised not to kill me, right?

But he'd also said he loved me once. His word was worth nothing.

I screamed beneath his cold palm when his fangs pricked my skin. His free hand was curled around my jaw, keeping my head turned. I would bruise with the strength of his hold, but that was the least of my problems. Then, just as fast as it had begun, he pulled away.

I was crying again, as I scrambled back up and pressed back into the arm of the couch. My hand clamped down over my throat, my knees drew up to my chest. The vampire smiled, licking his lips, not bothering to put away his demon face.

"Why did you do that?" I demanded, hating that I sounded like a frightened child. He shrugged, straitening his black shirt.

"To see how you would react." He stood with a smile and looked me over. "It wasn't disappointing."

"You're sick." I spat, but he wasn't fazed.

"Your room is the second door to your left down the hall. There should be some sort of sleeping apparel in the closet. I promise not to disturb you while you sleep."

I might have retorted, but something caught my attention and I frowned. "You told me you didn't have anything for me to wear."

"Yes, well, that was when I planned on seeing you naked. I've decided to wait a bit longer."

"Excuse me?"

He grinned, winking. "Good night, sweet Mira. We will talk more when the sun sets."

My mouth hung open a moment, but I couldn't think of a strong enough statement of how much that was NOT going to happen. Deluded bastard. He wasn't going to touch me! I jumped to my feet and hurried around the couch, happy to put it between us as I dashed from the room and into the hall. From there I ran to the room he'd specified and slammed the door, cursing when I found no lock, though it shouldn't have surprised me.

I didn't bother checking the closet, just sat against the headboard hugging my knees until the night finally settled on me. Suddenly, I couldn't keep my eyes open, and slid down onto the thick crème comforter.

That night, I dreamt that the others found me, and did not refuse the tortures they demanded for my betrayal. I knew in my heart, that I deserved them.