Colette had let us leave with orders to return soon. She kissed Isaac on the cheek and shot me a distasteful look, and then we were out of the library. Her Shadow hurried in the door behind us, to tend his mistress. I refused to let Isaac hold my hand now, though I walked close to him in case any other vampires sought to harm me.
As we left the manor and headed for the car, Isaac pulled up short. Sanura leaned back against the passenger door. The man in her arms was sagging to the ground, his skin an odd shade of pale. When she saw us, she tossed him aside without a thought and smiled at Isaac. The man hit the ground hard, breaking something, but by the dull glaze of his open eyes, he was already dead.
"So it's official now." She asked as we approached. I stood a step behind Isaac and watched her closely, though if she chose to strike I would have been screwed. Isaac smiled charmingly and pulled his keys from his pocket.
"She is mine for as long as I choose to keep her."
Sanura sighed leaning onto the top of the car as he rounded it to unlock his door. "Why is it you've never called on me Isaac? We used to have so much fun together. Back in the old world, you and Daniel were legends among the Seethe. I could hardly keep up with you."
I watched his smile fade at the mention of that name. This was twice he'd lost his humor over this vampire. Whoever he was, Isaac did not call him friend. Sanura tilted her head, expression one of question. She looked almost sad.
"I know I can not bring the two of you back together, but we can still enjoy ourselves. Why have you never asked me out feeding?"
Isaac's smile returned, but it was tight and irritated. His eyes flashed maliciously before he answered. "I suppose it's because I slept with you." She only chuckled.
"And?"
"And then I got bored."
My eyes went wide at his bluntness. Any normal woman would have been furious at such a statement. Maybe slapped him and stalked off, but not Sanura. She gave him a sad smile and pulled away from the car.
"I will try to be here when you visit again. We all know Colette will not release your leash so easily." Her eyes wondered to me, and I was surprised to find no hostility in them. "There is rumor that she has plans for you now that you've come back to us. No doubt she will try the same once Daniel returns as well."
Isaac's jaw clenched and the female vampire gave a soft sigh. Her bright green eyes slowly darkened to black and she turned back to him, her expression solemn.
"Do not trust her Isaac. We have lost many to her plays for power. I could not stand to loose you as well."
With that, the vampire turned and left for the house, her movements far too fluid to be human, and the display was unnerving. Isaac followed her with his eyes the entire way, then let slip a soft growl and slid into the car. It rumbled to life as I was opening my door and hopped in.
He shifted and hit the gas aggressively, letting the tires shriek beneath us and spray gravel at the stone wall of the manor. I had barely closed my door when we were peeling out of the driveway and down the road. He ignored traffic signs and downshifted while I fumbled with my seat belt. We would not crash, his reflexes were too quick for that, but the speed was still unnerving. After a few minutes of silence I frowned out my window. I didn't recognize this road anymore.
"Where are we going?" I asked, careful to keep my voice soft in case he really was furious. The vampire didn't acknowledge me at first. He shifted again, and the speedometer wavered at 95. Then after it seemed he would not answer at all, he sighed.
"I'm hungry." He said simply. "We're going into the city tonight."
"But I don't want to go out an-"
"Well, unless you're willing to feed me yourself…"
I didn't have to reply which made him smile for the first time since getting in the car. "It's settled then."
His arm went behind my seat and he rooted around for something, returning with a lump of black material. "The place we're headed would accept your wearing such fine dresses, but honestly it would be too distracting. I won't find my meal if I can't take my eyes off you."
I blushed and took the thing he offered, which turned out to be a dark blue dress. Frowning, I glanced over at him.
"Why is it you seem to have women's clothing wherever we go?"
He grinned, watching the road. "Do you really want that answer?"
I started to say yes, then looked back at the dress. As we passed a streetlight I noticed that the hem around the burst was darker. Stained with something, though it was very little and hardly noticeable. I just knew what sort of thing to look for it seemed. My mouth closed tightly and I clutched the material in my fists.
"Good then. Now change."
"In the car?"
"In the car, or in the parking lot when we arrive. It's your choice."
Again I thought about how much of a bastard he was. I was completely naked under my gown, a fact I'm sure he remembered. But I knew he did not make idle threats, and as much as I didn't want to be naked so close to him, neither did I want to be so in public. He was the lesser of two humiliations.
Knowing that I would go his way, Isaac's fingers slid across my shoulder blades, unclipping the silver chain there and skimming up the back of my neck. I drew a somewhat shaky breath as his fingers dipped into my hair, pulling away the jeweled clasp so that it tumbled down my back. He opened the glove compartment and tossed the clasp inside then returned to his driving.
"Keep you eyes on the road, mister." I warned, then, glancing up at the rearview I pointed at it. "And keep that thing where it's supposed to be."
Isaac chuckled, nodding once. "Any more orders, mistress?"
I frowned and unzipped the side of the gown, holding it against myself to keep covered, and unbuckled my seat belt. "I can think of a few."
He only laughed as I began the embarrassing process of changing next to him.
xXx
The bar Isaac sped us too was on the other side of the city, so I got to sit in awkward silence with him after being naked. He would glance at me periodically, chuckling when I accidentally met his eyes and blushed. When he pulled into the parking lot and parked us I was ready to tuck and roll.
"I'm going in here to find something to eat." he said, as if I didn't know. Or perhaps just to make it clear. "Unless I get bored, we'll be leaving with her."
"Why are you telling me this?"
He turned in his seat. "Well, it would look perculiar if you tagged along-"
"I'll just wait in the car and-"
"So," he cut me with a pointed look, "You're going to have to find yourself a date."
I couldn't even be angry because it was so rediculas. "Fuck you." I laughed. When he arched an eyebrow I shook my head. "Even if I was ok with it, do you know how long it's been since I've had a date? I don't know the first thing about picking men up in bars."
Isaac smiled, unbuckling my seat belt. "Easy. Act like you're going to sleep with them."
My jaw dropped, but he was out of the car before I could retort. My door came open before I could move and he took my arm, hauling me from the car. I jerked out of his grip and took a few steps back.
"I am not going to-"
"Listen." he sighed, moving closer, "Either you find a date, or I'll find one for you. Take your pick." My clenched jaw was enough answer for him and he smiled. "Good then."
His eyes slid to the hem of my dress, just below my knees and I yelped when he reached down and ripped away the material a few inches.
"Hey!"
"Now it'll be easier." He grinned, taking my arm.
He walked me to the front doors nodding to the bouncer who let us in passed the rope. This must have been a great bar because the people outside in line shot us hateful glares. I noticed one woman twirling her finger around the curled end of a pigtail. Dressed like a slutty schoolgirl, her eyes locked on Isaac and brightened. The vampire noticed, winking at her on the way in and I rolled my eyes. He had no shame.
"Alright, baby. What are you drinking tonight?"
"You know I'm underage, right?"
He huffed and walked me to the bar anyway, guiding me into a seat and hailing the bar tender. I took my chance to look around at the place. It wasn't huge, but big enough for a stage and a dance floor. The outer walls were lined with booths with a scattering of tables everywhere else. The music was all heavy base and synthesizers. It was dimly lit, besides the lasers and colored dome lights. This looked like the kind of place you'd find acid floating around on trays, and by the odd cyber-punk and goth dress of most of the occpuants, I wouldn't be surprised. They moved about the room with glowing jewelry and flashing pacifiers.
"Did you just take me to a rave?" I asked Isaac over the music. It was low enough that we could still talk. He smiled and shook his head, handing over a glass tumbler that looked as if it had melted, and painted with neon colors. When I only stared at it, the bartender chuckled.
"Lighting glass." he motioned toward the tumbler. "You know when lighting hit the beach? It's made from sand."
"Pretty." I said and looked back at Isaac. "So do you come here often?"
The vampire sat down at the black bar seat and swiveled it around to watch the door. "When ever I'm feeling playful."
I shook my head and took a small sip of the drink. Isaac slugged his own and passed his eyes over the crowd. Pausing every once and a while to inspect some scantily clad woman, swaying to the beat. I took another sip of the vodka tonic and watched him. How many times had he done this in his long life? How many dead could he claim? Hundreds? Thousands? It was frightening to think that so many of his kind and others just just the same. People you passed on the street or stood behind in line. This was a terrible world, and it was filled with monsters.
"There you are." Isaac smiled devilishly and brought my attention to the door. The schoolgirl had just sauntered in. Her darkly lined eyes roamed across the place before they landed on the bar and us. Her posture became seductive, her movements slow. I watched the vampire meet her eyes from across the room and nod toward the seat beside him. For a moment, she looked at me, but apparently decided I was no competition and complied. Her long, silver-nailed fingers dipped into the small pocket in her plaited skirt, withdrawing a red tootsipop. When she approached I turned back toward the bar and focused on my drink.
"Hey there." her voice was smokey, practiced. She cocked a hip and smiled, giving Isaac a once-over, "My name's Candy."
He chuckled soft a wicked and swirled the dark liquid in her glass, watching as she rolled the lollipop around in her mouth. "Is that you're real name, Candy?"
She smiled, moving to his side and against the bar. "Maybe. What's yours?"
"Mason."
She tapped the bar and the bartender nodded, pulling a glass. Isaac, or Mason in seemed, held up a hand. "What are you drinking tonight, Candy?"
She seemed to like it when he said her name. "Hmm, something sweet."
"Imagine that." I murmured, downing the rest of my vodka tonic. Candy's eyes snapped to me and narrowed, her hand going to Isaac's on the bar. Brazenly, she stroked her nails down his fingers.
"So, are you alone tonight?" she asked while Isaac eyed her fingers, his gaze flitting up to meet hers again.
"This is my cousin, Mira. I promised to party her out while she's visiting." Idly , I wondered why he gave my name and kept his own, but was too intent on their conversation to really care.
"That's sweet of you." She said, her flirtatious smile returning. "This is my first time here."
Isaac raised his brows slightly as if interested and pushed his glass back to the tender sliding across bills for it and ours. "Oh? And what do you think so far?"
"It's not bad so far." At that she leaned in a bit toward him. Aggressive little thing, wasn't she? It seemed Isaac wouldn't even have to seduce his pray. She would do it for him. Part of me pitied her, the other was amused at the irony of the situation.
Isaac smiled in the way that made even me a little dazed sometimes, and took Candy's hand. His thumb ran across her wrist, turning the light in her eyes a bit heated. She licked her lips, trying to keep hold of the confidence she come with and waited for him to speak.
"Well, Candy, would you like to find some dark little corner and talk?"
Already starting on my second drink I tried not to smile. The two of them were a saucy duo. Right to business. The girl arched a brow and nibbled her bottom lip before nodding.
"What about your cousin?" By the way she was watching him, it was clear she said this only out of courtesy, but Isaac flashed me a grin.
"She came here to meet people, not chat with me. She'll be fine, right Mir?"
His use of a nickname, like we were close made anger flare up beneath my skin. Happy to be rid of him, I nodded and forced a smile.
"I've got my vodka in any case."
Isaac met my eyes steadily. "Try to be sociable." Find yourself a dumb drunk.
I nodded sighing in relief when they began to make their way toward the most heavily shadowed booths. I waited for him to sit down then stood, downing my drink and moved into the crowd.
He was an idiot.
The vampire had just left me alone in a club, expecting me to follow his orders. But there were much smarter ways to spend this rare freedom.
Like escaping.
Was he really so confident that I would mind him? Expecting me to remain in this place and wait for him, while I could slip away while he was distracted? I might sanction finding a drunk fro that so they could drive me away, but it would take too much time. I wanted to run toward the exit, but knew better.
Looking back at Isaac, I found his eyes on me and smiled, though it made my heart skip. It wasn't as if he could read my mind…that I knew…so I lifted my arms and started to dance with the others. He arched a brow as if in warning while I sidled up to a lone dancer and gave him a come hither smile. The vampire watched a moment longer, then turned his attention back on his meal.
My smile faded and I glanced at the door, then back at him. The guy stepped closer, grabbing my ass, but I allowed it despite my rage. I could do this, no time for anger. My hands went to him and I danced us closer to the doors, watching Isaac as best I could. He was chatting away with Candy while she giggled and stroked his hand.
Feeling more than a little frightened I spun around the next dancer and hurried off toward the doors. While the handsy guy was fighting through the surging dancers, I dashed to the exit and pushed out the doors.
The first breath of air was like nothing I'd felt before as I ran down the street. I knew it wasn't over yet, but already I felt weight falling off my shoulders, the vice grip on my heart slowly loosening. I would find someone, anyone, or better yet a group and beg their help. He had killed my entire family of hunters without thought, but doing so in the busy streets of a city was different. He couldn't take such risks and we both knew that. So I would-
Suddenly the curve of the ally to my right was rushing up around me and the force of contact made all oxygen in my lungs explode outward. Gasping I tried to lift myself, but felt fingers in my hair and slammed into the wall.
"You're a ballsy thing, I'll give you that." Isaac spun me to face him and slammed me back against the wall. "But did you honestly expect me not to notice you hauling ass out the door? Christ, Mira, I thought you were smarter than this."
Ok, so it had been a stupid plan, but I hadn't expected him to catch me this quickly. He must have traced out of the club to manage that which only raised more questions. It seemed that he had left me alone, not expecting me to mind him, but knowing he could get to me when I did. I should have known better, but honestly, I couldn't have passed up the opportunity regardless. I had to at least try to get away from him, even if it was impossible.
"What happened to Candy?" I asked, wide-eyed and gazing up at him. The vivid blue and green of his eyes were now consumed by his pupils. Completely black and gleaming in the far-off lamplight. He growled low in his throat, and tightened his fingers around my neck until I choked.
"She's comatose in our booth waiting for someone to notice her and call an ambulance." He grinned though it was menacing. "If I loose my diner because of you, you take her place. Do you understand?"
Grudgingly, I nodded and he released my throat to let me cough. "Good, then. Shall we try this again?"
"Sonofa…bitch." I managed to wheeze and he gave me a light pop across the cheek, enough to startle me.
"Let's be nice now, Mira."
He took my hand and we headed back toward the club. Feeling defeated and worthless, I followed without complaint. On to take two.