When I finally swallowed down my irritation and left Josep's room, Isaac was playing the guitar again. This time he was sitting in the armchair closet to the fire while Sanura and Josep lounged on the couch listening. The vampire ignored me as I came to sit in the opposite armchair, tucking my legs up under myself and watching him. I knew the tune, had heard it many times when my father had played the guitar to put me to sleep. House of the Rising Sun, by The Animals, but as Isaac began to sing the lyrics, I found myself growing impressed.

There is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun,
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
And God,

I know

I'm one.

Isaac's voice was pleasant and soothing. He gave the song a bluegrass-y sound I'd never heard before and the pleasure of listening temporarily made me forget why I'd come out here in the first place. His fingers were quick and sure on the strings of his guitar, picking out the notes without trouble, though I suppose several lifetimes to practice really did make perfect.

"Oh, m'bello," Sanura smiled, eyes flashing as Isaac played out the guitar solo. "It's been so long since you played for us."

Isaac smiled with one corner of his mouth, turning the expression wicked and playful, and it didn't fall away as he finished singing the song. When the last notes had been strummed, Josep cheered and Sanura cried for another. Not wanting to ruin the mood, I remained quiet and tried not to be upset that Isaac had yet to acknowledge me. He was angry, that much was obvious, and I wanted to talk to him, to apologize, if I could manage to force the words from my mouth. It was looking harder by the second.

"Requests?" Isaac asked, leaning forward to swipe Sanura's cigarette and take a slow drag. She giggled at something Josep was doing which made me arch a brow but I figured I didn't want to know anyway and looked back to Isaac.

"Hmm," Sanura grinned, swatting at Josep's hand, "Ah! Something modern!" She motioned vaguely at me and I realized that the vampire must have been a little drunk, "Mira's here now. Play something new."

Josep's smile faltered just a bit as he glanced between us, but Isaac only looked at me.

"Very well." He said and glanced down at his guitar to strum the opening cords of his song. It was light and fun, and change from the languid pace of the Animals song. After a few moments, I recognized it from the radio and fought a grin that he would know the song at all.

Your lipstick stains

On the front lobe of my left side brains,

I knew I wouldn't forget you

and so I went and let you

Blow my mind.

His eyes lifted to mine and his expression was one I suddenly couldn't read as he sang the next verse, giving the words meaning beyond just the song.

Your sweet moonbeams

The smell of you in every single dream I dream.

I knew when we collided,

You're the one I have decided

Who's one of my kind.

He slipped into the chorus then smiling for Sanura as she stood and pulled Josep up along with her to dance behind the couch. When the chorus of Hey Soul Sister came around again the three of them were all singing along while I remained in my chair watching Isaac play DJ with his painted smile. Though he was a master at hiding what he truly felt, I was beginning to notice the signs.

The smell of you in every single dream I dream.

The words made me shiver.

When the song was finished, Sanura burst out in happy laughter and fell into Josep's arms. The vampire smiled spinning her around and, to her delighted squeal, bent to kiss her. It lasted seconds and when she pulled back to search his expression, Sanura's brows were raised in surprise.

"I didn't think you were into…" But he chuckled and she trailed off.

"When have you known me to deny anyone over gender?" she shrugged, smoothing down his collar, and he grinned, "Besides I don't have long left. It makes a guy open for anything."

Sanura giggled again as his arm slipped around her waist, and they moved for the hall. Isaac, setting his guitar on the carpet beside him cleared his throat.

"Try not to wake the neighbors, children. Just keep in mind that she's a screamer."

Something flew across the living room to narrowly miss Isaac's head and he laughed, giving Sanura a mocking wave. She was too occupied with Josep however to really care and skipped off to her room. Josep remained at the mouth of the hallway and as Isaac went to grab a new smoke, he winked at me and nodded toward him. Apparently he knew why I'd come out and was clearing the room to give us privacy.

While getting himself some action of course.

My eyes went back to Isaac and I tapped my hand on my knee, fighting to come up with a way to start this conversation. I'd rather not go through it at all, but this needed to be said. I was tired of fighting so hard to hate him and wasting energy on pointless arguments. If we didn't find a middle ground, then someone would eventually say the wrong thing (probably me) and end up dead (probably me). Pagan God at my back or not, Isaac had a line and sooner or later I would stumble across it to my death.

"Say it."

He startled me when he spoke and I nearly jumped out of my chair, gripping the arms and turning to him.

"Say what?"

Isaac sighed, leaning back in his chair into a cocky masculine posture; legs spread wide, uncaring, and one arm hooked casually over the back of the chair. "Whatever it is you feel you need to get out. Just do it. I don't have time to play this game with you tonight."

I scowled, crossing my arms, "What game?"

Rolling his eyes, the vampire took a drag of his cigarette and spoke, letting the smoke curl out with his words. "Your favorite one." He said with a sarcastic smile, "Where you accuse me of being a heartless monster and stomp off to your room like a childish brat. So go on, little girl, tell me what a horrible, disgusting thing I am. Tell me how you hate me and wish me dead." He checked his watch and arched a brow. "Just do it quickly, I have somewhere to be tonight."

My jaw dropped at this and for a moment I couldn't even speak. Isaac's brows rose expectantly as I sat there growing hot with rage, and took a slow drag, watching me through the pattern of smoke.

Asshole. Stupid, jerky, sonofabitch, asshole. I could have forgotten this whole thing, really considered it, but this was exactly the problem. We couldn't keep doing this, not if I was going to live with him indefinitely. It couldn't work, and we couldn't keep attacking each other. Not that I didn't want to reach over and pull those pretty eyes right out of his skull and nail them to the wall, I just had to learn to play nice.

Or at least attempt to.

"Isaac," I began, taking a deep breath to keep my voice even, "I didn't come here to yell at you-"

"That's surprising." He interrupted with a tight smile, "Are you saving it up for next time?"

My eyes narrowed, but I didn't bite at the bait he wiggled in front of me. "I came because I think we both need to talk."

Isaac groaned, sinking down into his chair and ran a hand into his hair. "Ok, I'm going to stop you right there. I have neither the patients nor the desire to be civil with you, Mira. I don't care if you came to apologize and I don't want to sit here and share feelings with you. This isn't a slumber party, and I am not your friend."

I grit my teeth a moment, anger threatening to take control again, "Will you just shut your face and listen to me?"

The vampire stood, laughing, "Shut my face? Is that some hip new lingo the kids are using nowadays?"

That was it.

"God damnit, Isaac!" I cried, standing to lob a pillow at his head, though he swatted it away with little effort. "I'm trying to ask for a truce here and you can't even hear me out! What is wrong with you? Why is it so hard for you to even pretend for one fucking second that you're human?"

"Because I'm not!" he bellowed back. In a blink he was in front of me, holding my upper arms and shaking me to emphasize his point, pupils swelling to consume his eyes in anger.

"Why don't you get that?" he asked, then shoved me back so that I fell onto the couch. "I haven't been human for a long, long time, Mira. I don't remember what it bloody feels like!" He moved forward again stalking me as I crawled backwards across the couch and slamming his hands down on either side of my head when I'd reached the end.

"I understand that you can't pry yourself away from your precious morals yet, but eventually you'll have to learn or leave." He let his fangs flash from his frightening leer, "Do it quickly, because I can't keep waiting for you to grow up."

"Grow up?" I shoved his chest, though it did nothing. He was a solid wall at this point, "Are you kidding me? Grow up? That involves ignoring the fact that you kill people for fun, right? Sure, I'll just get over that."

He laughed, incredulous and tired, pushing off the couch to turn away from me and crack his neck.

"Would it make a difference if I told you she was a shadow? Maybe that she was selling transients to her master's friends as snacks?"

"Sure, but it wouldn't have a made a difference if she wasn't. You still would have murdered her."

Isaac shook his head and it looked as if he had deflated. The anger seeped away and he plopped down in his chair with a weary sigh. "You're right. I killed her because I was told to. What she'd done was not my concern. She was dead either way."

"And you're just okay with it. That's what bothers me."

Isaac rested his head in his hand, "Eventually, Mira, you will realize that life is not as precious as you like to make it out to be. Sometimes death is a reprieve."

"Didn't do you much good." I snapped, arms crossed. Now I was tired again. Talking to him always made me tired.

"I said death." He replied tersely, looking back at me, "I didn't get that privilege. I'm still here. I live because I must and take pleasure in anything I can. It makes no difference whether you approve or not, you are nothing but a fruit fly. You will end so quickly you might as well have never lived at all in comparison to the life I will see. I am endless, you," he swept me with a scathing look, "are nothing."

It sort of hurt, hearing him say such a thing, but I didn't show it. Instead I only stared at him and pulled myself so far back from the surface of myself that I might as well have been as empty as he was.

"I'm worthless to you then." I clarified.

The vampire didn't answer and seemed content to ignore me again, so I stood, and moved to the front door to grab my jacket.

"Then let's do this." I said, "I'm sure you have other jobs while we're here. Take me with you."

He only stared at me. I don't think he believed what he was hearing.

"Oh come on, how else will I get used to it then?"

"What are you trying to prove?" he asked, not moving.

I didn't know yet. He'd made me angry and now there was an urge to show him…something, but I didn't really understand what it was yet. All I knew was that I wanted to do this, wanted to see him in action, without Cern there to take everything out of context.

"Do you have another errand from Collette or what?"

"Just one." He replied.

"Then let's go."

The vampire shook his head and settled down in his chair, eyes closing. "Sanura will help me, you wouldn't be able to handle it even if we weren't killing the girl."

I marched across the room and placed my hands on either side of his chair, leaning down to stare into his face. "Isaac, get your ass up and take me out to this job."

He looked up at me, laughing softly and grabbed my wrists, standing and forcing me back at the same time. He squeezed so hard that the bones ground together before he released me and disappeared somewhere in the hotel suite.

For a long moment, I thought he'd simply left me, but the vampire returned holding a long black jacket made of leather and cut for a woman.

"This is Sanura's, but it should fit you well enough." He tossed it at me and I was hit by two separate articles of clothing. "the pants are a gamble."

"Why would I need these?" I asked holding up the glossy, black latex capris with a frown. Isaac laughed and crossed his arms with shrug.

"The job is at a fetish club." He answered simply, watching for my reaction. I did my best to cover it and remain determined. "Still interested?" he asked mockingly.

"Shut up." I snapped, spinning on my heel to march off toward the bathroom. "I'll be back in a minute. Don't leave."

Isaac chuckled, "Don't worry, I'm looking forward to seeing you squirm, love. I'm not leaving without you now."

Wonderful, I thought, and imagined what Isaac's head would look like skewered on a pike in the lawn of his manor. The thought made me smile and I held tightly to it as I went to change into this silly costume. If I was lucky, I would live to see it.