The hotel walls were thin in this dingy place, so when our car rumbled to life outside I sat up in bed. It took me a moment to reorient myself, to remember that when I stood up, I'd still be naked. I was alone in the room, however, so it wasn't a problem. I hurried to my bag and dug through the thing for the quickest thing I could throw on, finding a knee length dress. I tugged it on and straightened myself as I moved to the door.

Sanura was turning to look at me when I opened the door, her expression a bit tight. Isaac stepped out of the car, engine still running and looked between the two of us.

"Did I interrupt something?" I asked titling my head at the guilty looking vampires. Sanura shook her head chuckling, tension easing instantly. It was a little off-putting. Staged undoubtedly.

"We need a new car."

"Oh? And what's wrong with this one?"

Isaac appeared on my other side, making me jump back against the hotel door. Seeing this, he covered a laugh and leaned up against the wood beside me, crossing his arms.

"Is that how you're going to wake up every day on this trip? Grouchy?"

"I'm not grouchy. Just-"

"Irritable?" He smirked, cocking a brow at me. Normally this would be my cue to bite back at him and start a fight, but this time, I couldn't help but smile. Though, not willing to show a complete change, I shoved his arm.

"I wake up alone, and hear you leaving, what am I supposed to do?"

He grinned at Saunra, "You see this? She's only touchy cuz she misses me already. I told you she liked me."

Sanura rolled her eyes, leaning back against the car.

"You owe me money, don't you forget." He smirked.

"Are you serious right now?" I asked, starring at him. The vampire laughed again, and suddenly his arms were on either side of my head. I was trapped up against the door while Sanura sighed and turned away to ignore us.

"Half serious." He nodded watching me fight to stay calm in my position. Not that I thought he would hurt me, I just wasn't quite used to this relationship yet. The rules had changed and I just didn't know what to expect from him anymore.

He waited while I settled down, and fought his smile when I attempted to cover my awkwardness by placing my hands up against his chest and forcing them to stop shaking. Up for three minutes and my heart was already racing again. This couldn't be good for the body.

"Quick question," he said tilting his head at me while I fingered the collar of his black jacket. "If I give you extra special attention now, will you feel better?"

I frowned at a large tear on the back of his jacket, trying to inspect it. "What kind of attention?"

He swept my hands away from his jacket, and grabbed my chin to make me look up at him. "The kind that should be taken inside," Isaac smiled devilishly kissing the corner of my mouth, "Unless you don't mind a little exhibitionism, it's really not as bad as it sounds."

"Let me get this straight," I laughed, only a little irritated by his ridiculousness. "You're asking if I'll have sex with you in front of people?"

He raised both brows, opening the door behind me and stepping us back inside. "If you want to take it there, I suppose. I didn't know that's what you were into."

I'd wrapped my arms around the back of his neck when he started moving, to hold myself up. At his comment, I frowned up at him playfully tugging his hair. "Don't get yourself excited pervert. I'm not freaky-deaky like you." I busied myself a moment in playing with the soft black hair on the back of his neck, but was distracted when I found it warm and wet.

He tried to catch my wrist before I could see it, but for once I was faster. I rubbed my fingers together, starring down at the dark red on my fingertips and trying to figure out how it had gotten there.

"You aren't hurt." I said at my fingers while the vampire dropped the pretense of flirtation and sighed heavily.

"Why must you always be difficult?" he grumbled as I stood up on my toes and prodded the place I'd touched. There was no wound, but I felt more sticky blood, and now that I was paying attention, there were speckles of it all over him, as if he'd washed off in a hurry and missed places. There was also the tear in his jacket, like something big took a swipe at him and only caught the cloth.

"What's in the car Isaac?" I asked stepping around him to move for the hotel door. Halfway there he traced in front of me and shook his head.

"You don't need to see it Mira."

"What did you do?" I asked slowly, and by the brief moment of anger in his face, I knew I'd struck a nerve. He hadn't made me forget that he was a sociopath just because he'd slept with me.

The vampire didn't answer, he simply stepped back and motioned that I could leave if I wanted, so I hurried outside before Sanura could drive away with the evidence. Thankfully when she saw me, she didn't peel out, instead with a soft groan, she cut the engine and stepped out, letting me jog toward the back doors. Isaac appeared to my right and moved as if he were going to stop me, but with one last glare his direction, I yanked open the back door and looked inside. It took me a moment to realize what I was seeing. To process that the dripping red and black and grey were the flesh of another creature. I'd seen enough of dismembered bodies to recognize one now, even as mangled as this. I stumbled back a step, hand going over my mouth to keep in the vomit that threatened me.

The man, and I was sure he was a man by his nakedness, had been split open from navel to his sternum and his insides had spilled out onto the floorboard. His intestines tangled around what was left of his arms and legs as if he'd still been struggling as they spilled out of him. One arm stretched out above him, fingers gripping the door handle, though the bone was cracked and protruding from the flesh, the skin around it black with bruising. The other arm had been shredded, the flesh and muscle ripped away from the bone. His legs too were mutilated, sitting at odd angles with splintered bits of bone pushing from the ruined flesh in multiple places. His left foot seemed to be missing completely. I was afraid to look at what was left of the face but found I couldn't help myself. Bits of bone and brain matter oozed from the empty right eye socket. The other eye was wide starring off blankly at the roof of the car, and it made my stomach tighten in knots when I saw the color.

Beady and black, even when he was dead, just like a weasel. This was Willem.

Isaac appeared at my side and shut the door, pulling me away from the car and back into the hotel room where we couldn't be overheard. Once we'd crossed the door however, I shoved him back and pointed at the car.

"What the FUCK, Isaac?" I demanded to his heavy sigh, "How could you do that?"

At this his eyes snapped up to me, his pupils swelling just a bit in his anger. "How could I not? What you should be asking is how I kept myself from killing the other despite Malachi's deal."

"What deal?" I asked, falling back to sit on the edge of the bed. This was bad. This was…fucked.

"He told me the promise you made." He said and very suddenly the vampire was right in front of me, going onto one knee so he could grab my jaw and look into my eyes with a frighteningly severe expression. "What the hell were you thinking? You don't owe those filthy dogs anything and yet you would protect their criminals from me? Men who tried to-"

"I'm tired of people dying because of me."

Isaac looked at me, as if I spoke another language, then shook his head and stood with a scowl. "Get over it."

"What deal Isaac?" I grabbed his shirt when he tried to walk away, disgusted by the wet feel of Willem's blood. "How could you kill him without starting a war?"

"When you slept Sanura and I went to have a chat with the Alpha about what had happened to you. He seemed to know it was coming, so I can only assume he mentioned it to you."

I nodded slowly, feeling as if I were floating high above myself. Perhaps this was shock, "He asked that I-"

"Keep it to yourself so that I didn't rip his dogs limb from limb?" Isaac finished. When I nodded again, he growled, "And you listened? What is wrong with you?"

"With me?" I demanded, jabbing a thumb toward the hotel door, "What about you, you fucking psychopath? Killing him is one thing Isaac but that was…" I closed my eyes, putting my hand up to my mouth at the first sign of vomit. I gagged once, but managed to hold everything down. Isaac pinched the bridge of his nose and growled softly.

"Damnit, woman. I told you not to look." He shook his head, "If you didn't believe I would want to avenge this, you must have known that I would at least want retribution for what is mine."

"I wanted to forget it ever happened." I said quickly, "But Isaac you can't-"

He pulled back looking me dead in the eyes, "I never forget Mira. It is a fact of my physiology. And while I admit to having my own darker moments in the past, rape is something that I cannot abide. Not with you."

I stared at him a long time. I didn't like Willem, he was dirt and pathetic. I'd even wanted to kill him myself, but this was different. It had to be. The way his body had looked, utterly savaged, was disgusting. The reminder that Isaac enjoyed such things was also unpleasant. Then there was what he'd said, the fact that he'd done it for me. Because he wanted to protect me in his own way. That the idea of a man who had hurt me was still breathing gave him a bloodlust like no other was…well not comforting, but something close to it.

Suddenly I felt very tired again.

"I get it." I said softly, moving to go sit in one of the wooden chairs by our tiny coffee table. "Thank you."

The vampire watched me with a frown, obviously aware that I wasn't really happy with the situation. Outside the car pulled out of the gravel parking lot and he sighed, losing his chance to flee me and my pesky emotions. After a moment or two of debate, he moved to the chair opposite me and took my hand over the table. It seemed awkward for him, but part of me was enjoying his discomfort, it was a nice change.

"You won't have to think of them again, Mira." He began slowly, "After tonight, you'll never see them again. Any of them." Meaning Sabin of course. Jealous fucker. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"You always scare me, Isaac. " I didn't look at him, just stared at the ugly brown carpet. He stiffened and pulled his hand from mine, and feeling a bit guilty I quickly covered. "But at least that means you scare other things too. You protect me, even if I irritate you. That's more than I can say for Cern."

"What do you mean?"

I snuck a glance at him and tugged at the hem of my dress, "I called him when…when it happened. He ignored me."

"Are you sure?" he asked quickly, anger clouding his tone, "It's not a pleasant thought, but he is a God Mira, he might have been busy."

I sighed, "I suppose, but he's never done that before."

Isaac shrugged, leaning back in his chair, "Maybe he got over you now that you gave it up."

I shot him a glare. "Why is that what you're gunna do?"

He returned my stare with just as much acid, "I think tonight is evidence to the contrary."

"If he doesn't want me it would mean you wouldn't have to keep me safe anymore. Are you sure you wouldn't be tempted to leave me somewhere?"

"I thought I was." He snapped back.

I stood up, letting my chair crash back against the wall and stomped in front of him. "You know, you've got a funny way of showing a girl you like her."

"I never said I liked you, Mira. I said that it was obvious that you liked me."

"I thought I did." I said slowly. The vampire laughed heatedly and leaned forward to stare up at me, his patchwork eyes gleaming with mischief.

"You do, you little brat. Even now, and I bet that irritates the shit out of you."

"You have no idea." I grumbled. Suddenly he wasn't angry anymore, or maybe I wasn't. The energy in the room changed and the way he was looking at me made my skin hot. I would have liked to say it was all his doing, but I couldn't help but admit that arguing with him was a little fun. Aggravating sure, but fun none the less. I think he knew that.

"I'm going to take a shower." I said to break the silence and turned away from him. I wanted to get out of this room before I found out what he was thinking. It couldn't have been good, and I felt awkward already. Isaac however caught my arm and tugged me back. I stumbled and landed with my knee between his legs on the chair. He tugged me once more and I fell into his lap.

The vampire looked over my face, brushing the hair from my eyes and tsk'ed softly. "You really think I'm going to let you run away now, after all the shit you put me through?" He laughed, "Hell no. You get to sleep in the bed you make from now on."

Frowning, I shifted as if I might get up, but he held me firmly in place. "That's a stupid plan."

Isaac shook his head, still grinning like an idiot. "How so? Are you saying you don't want to sleep in my bed anymore?"

I paused, speechless a moment as he shifted me to sit on the table and positioned himself between my legs. His hands were on my waist but as he leaned in to kiss my shoulder they were moving down my thighs. "I didn't mean that." I finally managed to get out and he chuckled against my skin, nipping me on the throat when he'd kissed there.

I let him have his fun, lost in sensation a while, before grabbing the collar of his shirt and pulling him into a kiss. The vampire smiled against my lips but didn't pull away. My hands had started exploring him, it seemed their default setting, I just liked touching him. He was hard in all the right places, his skin smoother than I would have ever guessed. I slipped my hand up under his shirt and raked my nails across his abdomen, making him hiss softly and suddenly he shot to his feet.

I fell back against the table and he kicked away his chair, wrapping a hand in my hair and pulling it tight. Once he'd forced back my head, his teeth were on my throat. He didn't break the skin, but he was aggravating the scar, sending little jolts of feeling down my spine. I moaned softly into his jacket and pulled it down his arms, tossing the thing across the room. I didn't want it touching me. When he smiled down at me I eyed his shirt, wondering if it would have to become another casualty. Buttons were against me, and Isaac seemed to favor them.

"Would you like me to do it?" he chuckled, starting at the top and working the buttons away far more quickly than I could have managed in my excitement.

I smirked tilting my head to enjoy the show, "I kinda liked ripping your clothes off. It was fun."

"Oh yeah?" he discarded his shirt and settled back over me, tucking my hair behind my ear, "Well then you can start replacing them. I liked that shirt."

"Oh please, Daddy Warbucks. I think you can afford a few shirts. I don't even have a job."

He grinned, "I know, you free-loader. When are you going to start pulling your weight?"

"Wanna front me a few Gs?" I asked batting my lashes. He laughed and his eyes went down my body a moment. Tilting his head, he reached out to skim his finger down my side.

"I see you've rebelled against underwear."

Propping myself up on my elbows I gave him a good looking over myself. "And I'm pretty sure you free-ball it every day. Besides, "I hooked my finger in his waistband, tugging on it idly. "I didn't have time to put any on. I thought you were running away."

"You should never have time again." He said sliding his hands up my side and dragging my dress in tow. Then he paused to grin, "Have you ever considered becoming a nudist?"

"I'm considering that shower if you don't hurry up and undress me."

Isaac arched a brow, then shrugged as if to say as you wish. Without another word, he grabbed the front of my dress and ripped it up the middle.

"Hey!" I frowned, though it was hard to keep the expression.

"Now you know how it feels." He replied simply.

I might have retorted, but suddenly he'd hooked his arms under both my knees and was lifting me up into the arm. I cried out, giggling and locked my arms behind his head as he carried me over to the bed. Isaac laid me back quickly, unbuckling his belt as he crawled onto the mattress with me. I grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him into a kiss. My free hand went to his buckle and I worked it loose so that he would be free to touch me. God I liked it when he touched me.

"You're oftly randy this evening." He commented when I'd gotten frustrated and had to take two hands to his belt, jerking the thing off and throwing it away. He caught it before it could fly off and smiled down at me in amusement. "Much more comfortable with yourself for one thing."

I glanced up at him to arch a brow before going back to getting his blasted pants away from us. It was proving to be a bitch. Had it always been this hard to undress someone?

"Are you rating my performance now?"

He stilled my hands and easily undid his jeans, "Would you like me to?"

"Hell no. I don't need to hear that I'm terrible thank you."

He laughed and shook his head, reaching out to lift my chin and kiss me into silence. "If I wasn't enjoying myself, Mira. I wouldn't be doing this right now. You're so unsure of yourself."

"Wonderful. Now I feel great."

Isaac sighed and leaned me back into the mattress, gathering my hands and closing them around the bar across the headboard. "I love it." He said, trailing his finger down to my nipple, "Everything is new to you. That means I get to make you gasp and yell, and enjoy that shocked little expression on your face when you realize you like it. I get to watch you let go, Mira and I've got to say I'm looking forward to it."

"This is not making me feel better." I muttered, wishing I didn't blush so much like a little girl.

"I didn't say it to make you feel better," he replied evenly, his fingers skimming down between my legs. I sucked in a breath when he touched me and gripped the bar above me with white knuckles. "It's the truth." He leaned in to nibble on the cusp of my ear, "You should know I plan to break you, Mira. Someone has to teach you how to let that freak flag fly."

I shuddered at the thought, doing my best not to smile so brightly, "And what is the first step in this plan?"

He chuckled pulling me into a kiss by the back of my hair. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him reach for his belt and pull it closer, but before I could find out what he might have done with it a hor honked outside.

Isaac's smile fell a bit and he sighed, dropping the belt and sitting up. I scowled at the hotel door.

"That was fast." He said aloud, pausing a moment and chuckling to himself. "Well give us a minute." I had to assume he was talking to Sanura outside. I sat up and crawled across the bed toward my bag, enjoying the feel of Isaac's eyes on me the entire way. When I bent down to grab the bag, I made sure to do so slowly and grinned at the soft rumble of his growl behind me.

"It just sortof turned that way, love. Couldn't help it." He spoke again to Sanura while I dug for clothing. After a moment, he grunted, "And you're a bloody cock-block. We'll meet you out there in 5."

"This whole one sided conversation thing is a little strange." I commented as I pulled on some black, lacy panties. Gag gifts from Sanura on our shopping spree. "Why don't you go outside and talk to her?"

He shrugged, fixing his pants and looking around for his shirt while I pulled on a matching black bra. "Well then I wouldn't get to watch you slink around like a cat in heat." He paused his search to slip an arm around my waist and pull me back against him, nipping the scar on my throat. I sucked in a breath, but thought of Sanura outside and the fact that she could hear everything in here. "I feel the proper response would be to mount you."

He was joking, the fucker, but I felt like I was under a microscope with the other vampire only a few yards away.

"Don't cats have that barb thing?"

Isaac pulled away to search my face, "Is this a concern of yours because I can assure you-"

"You can let me get dressed." I replied, standing to pull on a pair of jeans. The vampire's frown slowly curled into a wicked smile and he nodded, moving to his fallen shirt on the floor.

"Oh-ho-ho, she bites when she's frustrated. That's cute."

I grumbled and jerked on a teeshirt, shooting him a look that only made him laugh. The vampire traced across the room to grab the bags, but paused to stroke his thumb across my lip with a smile.

"Don't worry, precious. I'll tend to you later."

With that he'd vanished leaving the door open for me to follow. Outside Sanura arched a brow at me, leaning up against the driver's side door. When I'd gotten to the car she opened my door for me and motioned me inside.

"You better not think the two of you are going to be getting down while we're in this car. I'm not gunna drive and listen to your loud ass."

My jaw dropped and I heard Isaac laughing from behind the car where he'd just closed the trunk. He muttered something that made her laugh as well before they both got into the car and I tried to melt into the seats. When Sanura saw me in the rearview mirror she grinned, reaching back to touch my hand comfortingly.

"Don't fret, Kitten, you won't be this repressed forever. Not with this boy at your back."

"Thanks." I muttered, "That really helps."

So it's been a while and I know this. I'm so sorry, I got a little distracted with Fright Night, but honestly it just makes me miss Isaac. However, i have to say that's one vamp flick you should see. The original kicked ass, but Colin Farrel somehow managed to be a sexy evil beast in the remake, he was such a teaser and he didn't seem to give a fuck about being cautious.

"Don't need an invitation if there's no house" Ballin'

And the "Catch ya later" thing? It rocked. Go see it.

So now we're back on the road aaaaagain!

Come on…you know you wanna know what Isaac was gunna do with that belt. :D