Her lungs burned. The air rushed in and out of them in sharp, jagged bursts, almost timed to the way her shoes pounded against the earth. The ground was dry, little puffs of dust coming up with her every step. Despite the minor drought plaguing Demaitre, the little park was a pretty place. The lawns and trees and shrubbery were all well-watered and very green. The community-maintained flowers bloomed bright and pretty in all sorts of pinks and purples and oranges.

JJ saw none of it. Her eyes were blurred with sweat. Yes, sweat. She would not let the tears come. She would not think of it. The sun was hot on her face as the hazy red ball began its slip below the horizon and that was what made her eyes sting. The sun. The sun and the heat and her sweat.

Her hair, looking somewhat odd out of its usual ponytail, stuck to her neck as she ran. She wasn't heading anywhere in particular, just away from what plagued her mind. As long as she ran, as long as her head was full of buzzing exhaustion, she was still sane. She thought only of how her feet hit the ground, the shock traveled up her legs, her limbs pumped mechanically. No thoughts.

No thoughts.

She looked a bit odd herself, not at all how one would look when they went out for a run. Her hair was down, which it almost never was, making her look younger than she usually did. She wore an off-white blouse and a black blazer and black slacks that had been neatly pressed but were now wrinkled and dusty. Her shoes too were dusty—nice black shoes not at all made for running.

How long had she been running? Miles. How many? She couldn't say. She hadn't been able to stand being at home. The minute she'd stepped inside the house, she couldn't stand it. Her father had shut himself in his room with her stepmother briefly trying to comfort him before leaving him be. Nick too had shut himself in his room. JJ would have followed suit but after only a few minutes staring at the walls, had felt the unbearable need to move. To run. She hadn't even bothered changing her clothes, had simply slipped from the house and run here, to the pleasant park near the school.

Her eyes, blurred by sweat, didn't see the branch that had fallen across the path in time. Even once they had, she was too hampered by her clumsy, not made for running shoes to leap nimbly over it as she normally would have. One leg was in the air as she tried and she did a fantastic half-somersault, skidding to a landing on her knees. Jeans might have protected her, but her neat black slacks could not, shredding down the leg.

“Ahhh...” It wasn't a cry so much as an unconscious intake of air as the pain shot up her leg. She felt as if she'd dipped her legs in fire. Hissing, she tried to stand, but her legs shook so much she collapsed again. With another strained sound, she tried again and managed, limping the last twenty feet or so to a low bench. Lifting her legs onto it with some effort, she collapsed on her back, trying hard to control her breathing as the nauseating pain rolled through her.

It seemed it might work; her breathing began to even. But then it hitched. And she couldn't stop them anymore. The tears rolled out, violently shaking her thin frame.

Eire felt like shit... her whole body was sore, weak...

Even her mother and father were starting to worry about her. She was pale all the time, tired to the point of exhaustion. She was like a vampire herself really, the pale skin, the bright eyes... The inability to stay awake durning the day.

The nights that Felix came to call on her were getting harder than ever. Eamon wanted her to come over today during the day but she couldn't. She didn't want him to see her like this, didn't want him to see her so weak.

She was curled up on a bench in the sunlight, asleep and dead to the world. Someone could have kidnapped her, taken her to Turkey and she probably wouldn't have noticed. She was so tired, so exhausted...

Why was he so mean to her? So unforgiving and rough? Her body was always screaming and crying at her after she left him. Even the next morning after, her body was still always so sore.

But as she heard a cry, something startled her awake. "Huh... Wha?" She murmured as she pushed herself up. "JJ? Whuzzgoing on?" She said as she recognized the girl laying on the bench across the path, unable to really see what was going on because of the bright sunlight.

Her fingers clenched into fists, the nails cutting into the palms of her hands. Stop. Stop. If she was crying she was thinking about--about it. And if she thought about it, she made it real. As long as she didn't think baout it, it wasn't real. She wouldn't let it be real.

Lifting her knotted fists, she pressed her knuckles to her eyes until she saw stars. Now, instead of trying to block out the pain she embraced it. It filled her head until she couldn't think about anything else and her sobs slowed, even though her breaths stayed just as ragged.

Then she heard the voice. Despite the tired slur, JJ recognized it as Eire's, but didn't move her hands or look up. "I... tripped," she replied at last, her voice clipped and short.

Oh God. She could feel her composure breaking again.

Don't cry.

"Mmm... Mkay JJ..." She murmured sleepily before laying back down.

"Yo... My dorm's having a party t-night..." She mumbled. "You wanna come?" She offered. Sure JJ was under age, but hell, she was old enough to party... Heh... Old enough to party.

She tried to wake herself up, tried to get herself moving again. But it wasn't really working out that way. She was able to lift her head every so often, but she was so tired... So tired indeed.

"Hey... JJ... What's going on? Aint you spo's ta be in school or something right now? What time is it anyway? What day is it?" Admittedly she didn't know. She hadn't a clue what time, or even what day it was today. Or yesterday. Things were just blurring together now.

Damn it sucked... But then again, she was doing it for JJ. She owed her at least that much for what she had done.

Slowly, painfully slowly, the fire licking up her abraded legs began to ebb, becoming a sharp throb. "No. Maybe some other time," JJ muttered vaguely, her hands still pressed against her eyes, having not taken in a word Eire had said.

She clenched her hands tighter, green and orange swirls appearing before her eyes as she pressed her knuckles against them. As if she were forcing the tears back. JJ wouldn't cry. It didn't do any good. It was useless.

"School doesn't start until next week," she said at length, finally taking her hands from her face. Taking deep, shuddery breath, JJ's eyes were still closed as she added in a tight voice, "Tuesday." She didn't have a clue what time it was. Opening her eyes at last, JJ glanced in the direction Eire's voice had come from, taking in the other girl's haggard appearance.

Neither of them looked very good, did they?

"What's wrong with you?" she asked at last, still in that same, strained voice.

"Oh... Well maybe next time then?" She murmured as she stretched out slightly. It felt nice to lay in the warm sun... She was always so cold these days.

"Oh... Classes started last week for us... Well good luck with school." She said, a sleepy smile creeping slowly onto her face.

Her eyes opened though as JJ asked what was wrong. Well... She couldn't tell her the truth obviously... Oh... I... I've just had a really bad week... School and all. My anemia kicked back in so I'm just a little weak and tired. That's all. Nothing to bad." She assured JJ.

"How's everything going? Is Nick still... You know..." She murmured quietly, sure that JJ wouldn't want her to say much more out loud here.

"Yeah, maybe..." JJ said, her tone making it clear that the likelihood of that happening was pretty small. She wasn't much of one for parties, seeing how she was always miserably awkward with large groups of people.

School... JJ wasn't particularly looking forward to school this year. Now that Anna was officially Mrs. John Townsend, John was taking a 'more active' role in his children's lives. Which meant going to see all of Nick's games.

As you can imagine, not exactly JJ's idea of a good time.

She let out a humorless laugh at Eire's question. "Yeah, he's still," she said dully, sitting up to examine the grit-filled scrapes on her legs. "Dylan's dead," JJ blurted out at last, staring hard at her ripped slacks when she felt her eyes water.

With a groan she pushed herself up to lean against the arm of the bench.

"Well I'll hold you to that." She chuckled with a grin.

But the grin went away as she confirmed that Nick was still abusing her. "I'm sorry... Why haven't you been coming over? You know my mom loves you and she'd be willing to have you ove-" She stopped suddenly as JJ blurted something out, and it took a moment to register in her mind what she said.

"Dead? What? What happened JJ?" Her eyes were wide open now, her attention focused on JJ. She knew that JJ and Dylan were close, that they were like real siblings and they protected each other fiercely. "Nick didn't hurt him did he?"

Close didn't begin to cover it. JJ had been Dylan's protector, even before Nick's change. Dylan used to have nightmares and JJ was the one, almost more than their mother, who would comfort him. Tell him silly stories about dogs and gorillas she'd make up on the spot to make him feel better.

The stuffed dog he had always prized, though he didn't like to admit it when he'd gotten older, had been named for one of his favorite characters in her stories.

Thinking about it, JJ felt another sob rise in her throat and hastily smothered it by pressing her face to the tops of her knees. "No... No it wasn't Nick. It was an accident." She stared blankly into the distance. "It was an accident," JJ repeated, closing her eyes. "He was climbing his tree. It had rained the day before and they bark must have been slick. And he fell. Broke his neck."

Eire might have been tired, but of course she had the energy to move to sit with JJ across the path.

Luckily from her sun bathing her hands weren't noticeably colder than usual as she wrapped her arms around JJ and pulled her close. But what was there to say? It wasn't like someone had gone after him and hurt him... If that had been the case, Eire could swear to find whoever hurt him. And she would do that too. But... It was an accident.

"Why didn't you call me JJ?" Eire asked with a sigh. "You know I would have come to help you out..." She murmured softly. But she knew that she might not have been able too.. Especially if it was recently. Not with Felix.

"I'm so sorry JJ... Is there anything I can do?"

She kept her face stoic as Eire pulled her into an embrace, her knees drawn up almost to her chin. JJ felt that if she bent, even a little, she would crack and break into tiny little pieces.

Like a brittle piece of glass.

"I haven't wanted to talk about it much," she whispered. "It hurts." JJ hadn't told anyone yet. Except Felix. She could tell Felix anything. Had told Felix everything. He couldn't make it all better, but he made her feel better. "Felix knows," she said, forgetting that Eire didn't like him.

JJ closed her eyes, almost too warm in the sun. She should be cold. "He came to the funeral." And had, she thought now, comforted her in silence. One quiet look from him felt better than all the useless phrases in the world.

"I know JJ... I know it hurts... But it's not going to get better if you just hold everything inside." She sighed as she rubbed the girl's shoulder. "My... My mother was murdered JJ... After she left, someone killed her... I... I know she left, she ran from my dad and me, but she still loved me. Someone kidnapped her and killed her. I was so angry when I found out..." She sighed and shook her head. No, this wasn't the time.

Besides...

"Felix?" She said as she narrowed her eyes. "JJ, he's dangerous. Seroiuly! You need to stay away from him, please. I'm begging you JJ, please stay away from him!" And she was pleading her.

But... If... If JJ had told him, and... Felix knew... Why didn't Felix tell her? Why didn't Felix tell her that Dylan had died? That bastard... He hadn't told her to keep her away from everything. But she doubted that JJ would actually listen. She hadn't wanted to tell JJ about Felix... And it was highly unlikely that JJ would even believe her.

"Felix is a a dangerous man JJ, believe me, please. You're in serious danger around him." She sighed softly pulling the girl closer, her body nearly shaking with fear for JJ. Of only JJ would believe her, that he was a vampire, that he continually drank her blood, wore her body until it could do no more... That he made her beg for him to stop before he would even relent his pace... Why couldn't JJ believe her? "I just want to help you. That's all JJ. I want to help you."

"I'm sorry--about your mom," JJ began, before the other girl's words shifted to Felix. JJ shook her head, Eire's fervent warnings falling on deaf ears. Felix was the only person, the only one now that Dylan was gone, that actually cared about her. Anna did too, to be fair, but she had a busy job and couldn't be there.

Ever since she'd met him, Felix had been there for her. And not in a creepy older guy with his eyes on the teenager next door way either. He'd been a friend. No, he was a friend. It didn't matter if she had a crush on him, he didn't know and even if he did, well... He'd probably just try to let her down the softest way possible.

"He's not," JJ said, her voice weary. She'd heard Eire's warnings before and still JJ hadn't seen anything to make her believe them. The guy had adopted a puppy because the other option was that it would be taken to the pound and euthanized for Pete's sake. JJ was sure he wasn't a saint, but dangerous? Yeah, probably about as dangerous as the puppy.

She stiffened, just slightly, as Eire pulled her closer. "You don't understand. If you did, you'd know. This isn't help!" JJ protested, her voice rising unconsciously.

"He is! He's not who or even what you think he is." Eire said simply as she let JJ go. Obviously she didn't want to be held. She had to tell her though, no matter what she might have thought. As JJ lashed out slightly at her Eire gave a slight glare, and for a moment wondered if she ha-

No, she was doing the right think to try to help JJ. She didn't know the situation, she couldn't be blamed for her actions.

"He killed one of my friends, JJ. He's nearly killed me several times as well. I doubt you're going to believe me, but he's a vampire. And he's a hundred times worse than Nick could ever be. You wanna know why I'm so pale? So weak and sick looking? Because he only leaves me enough blood to stay alive, and even then it's only barely." She said as she grit her teeth.

Eire wasn't going to tell her why she was doing that... No. Not unless JJ asked. But she doubted that the girl would even believe her. Felix had pulled the wool so far over JJ's eyes, that she couldn't see anything else.

"He never told me Dylan died. He never said a damn word and he knew that I cared about you." It was like he was trying to keep Eire from her... But why.

"Please JJ you have to believe me. Felix isn't the nice guy you think he is."

"He's not who or even what you think he is."

JJ stared at Eire, confused. What she thought he was? What did Eire mean, Felix wasn't who or what she thought he was. "He's an antique dealer," she said, baffled, running a hand through her hair.

When Eire then went on to say that Felix happened to be a vampire who drank her blood, JJ could only stare silently, her mouth opening a little but no sound coming out. Finally, she found her voice. "Are you high?" JJ raised a hand, still staring at Eire as if the other girl had sprouted horns or Mickey Mouse ears. "You're kidding, right? I mean, I could almost understand if you said he was... I don't know. A child molester or something and you'd found old police files to prove it, but a vampire?"

JJ started laughing. "There's no such thing as vampires, Eire. They don't exist. Like Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy and, hell I don't know, the Easter Bunny." Her blue eyes studied Eire in the rapidly fading daylight. Behind them, a lamp flickered on, bathing them in yellow light.

When she looked at Eire, really looked at her, she did see that the other girl was pale and hollow-eyed. Maybe she was sick. She hadn't felt feverish, but... Then her next words put possible sickness right out of JJ's mind. "Wait, what do you mean he never told you about Dylan? When have you--"

"Ally?"

Speak of the devil. As if summoned by their conversation about him, there was Felix. Looking very normal and un-vampirey in jeans and a white long-sleeved shirt with thin blue stripes. With an excited yip, Hooligan made to charge JJ, held in check only by his sturdy leash.

"Felix? Why are you here?"

He walked a little closer, his eyes briefly flickering to Eire, but showing nothing. "Your stepmother called me. She said you'd snuck out and asked me to go look for you. I know you liked the park; this is where we," he paused almost imperceptibly, "where we talked," he finished. Gently, he added, "She's worried about you, Ally."

JJ shifted to hop off the bench, then paused, Eire's words suddenly ringing in her ears. Then, angrily, she brushed them off. Crazy talk, she thought. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stay out so long." She'd forgotten about her scraped up shins, but was reminded when she started standing up and hissed.

Immediately, Felix started forward, concerned. "You've hurt yourself."

Hooligan, finding himself within licking distance at last, gleefully started trying to bathe JJ's face. Laughing a little, she buried her fingers in his fur. "I tripped." He knelt to examine the raw scrapes and JJ, unconsciously, shifted so he could see them better.

"He's trying to keep you alone! So you have to go to him." She said quickly. But then her arguments were all for nothing as Felix himself showed up.

Eire hissed as she heard the voice. Damnit... The sun was already going down. How had she not noticed that!

"Get away from her!" She snarled as she stood. "You swore you would stay away from her!" She might have felt weaker than usual, even a little shaky on her legs, but she wasn't going to let Felix anywhere near JJ. She had given her blood, her body, nearly her life to see that he stayed away from her, she wasn't going to give up now.

Eire growled as Felix moved even closer. The wounds still seemed a bit open and... "Get... Away... Now Felix."

But the fact he had simply ignored her there was even more infuriating really. To have the nerve to touch JJ while she was around... It was almost like a slap in the face. How dare he... How dare he break his promise to her.

Ferox ignored Eire, but that was to be expected. Oddly, JJ seemed to ignore the other girl as well, not even blinking at Eire's violent protests. "It'll be alright, won't it Felix?" she asked, her eyes never flickering from his.

They never moved either when he stood, turning from her and to Eire. "Are you an idiot? You told her." Felix snapped, his hands clenching around Eire's arms. "And you might want to think again about what our deal was. I never said I'd break contact, only that I wouldn't do anything to her."

"You think it'll scar?" JJ said behind him, still looking at the place Felix had been.

Felix shook Eire. He'd thus far refrained from using his power on JJ and it angered him that he had to now. "What were you thinking, telling her?"

"Yeah! I did." She glared up at Felix. She gritted her teeth against the pain. Usually it didn't bother her, but her body was weak...

"Why didn't you tell me! Why didn't you tell me Dylan had died! She needed me Felix! I wanted to be there for you and you didn't tell me you asshole!" She yelled at him. But she fell quiet quickly as he shook her.

And JJ didn't notice?

"Let her go! JJ! Snap out of it! JJ, he's trying to control you! Snap out of it!"

Her anber eyes glared up at him again. "Why didn't you tell her?! If you were her friend, couldn't she trust you? Couldn't you trust her and tell her? If you really cared about her you would have! You wouldn't lie to her like you've been doing." She pointed out.

"Let her go Felix! Let her see you for the monster you are! You murderer, you blood sucking fiend!" She said as she fought against his grasp, but it was useless, they had already established she couldn't fight him in any way if he didn't want her to...

"No," Ferox contradicted calmly, releasing Eire and stepping back, "you didn't. The exact terms were that I wouldn't harm Ally, physically or mentally. In fact, I believe I even said something along the lines of her knowing me only as a friend and nothing more. She knows me as nothing more than a friendly neighbor."

As she yelled at JJ, he sighed a little. "She can't hear you."

His eyes reflected incredulity as Eire continued. "Right, tell her I happen to undead. Because that would be the smart, rational thing to do. Ally's perfectly happy thinking I'm an antique dealer with a sister and two nephews. You think it would set her mind at ease knowing I drink blood and happen to have a couple thousand years under my belt?"

"Let her see, tell her the truth? Why? To what end? Would that help her, Eire? Knowing that I have killed and I intend to kill many more times in the future?"

"She would know the monster you really are!" Eire snapped, not caring in the end how Felix might punish her for what she was doing.

"Why didn't you tell me her brother died damnit! You know I'm her friend! I would have been able to be there for her! He was the only reason why she was strong! He was her only reason for standing up to Nick! What do you think this is going to do to her?" She said, nearly shaking with rage.

Felix was standing in front of JJ, so there was no way she could reach her, Eire knew that. She winced as she moved her arms slightly, a light bruise already rising. She'd never bruised before... Was she just growing that much weaker?

"You lying, manipulating son of a bitch! Leave her alone! Stop trying to control her mind! She doesn't need you fucking around in her life!" She yelled as she approached Felix again. She didn't care anymore. She just didn't. "You don't really care about her! You want to make her into your little slave! So weak and helpless without you that she'll have no choice but to stay with you! That's all you want! Leave her the fuck alone Felix!"

She wanted to punch him, to hurt him somehow... But what could she do? She was helpless to do anything, either to hurt Felix or help JJ. Was that what he was trying to make her think with all this.

Her fists, balled up tight at her sides were shaking with rage and hatred.

"Leave her alone... Stay away from her."

"She doesn't need to know!" Ferox yelled, his temper breaking at last. Spinning, he curled his fingers into fists to keep from slapping the idiot girl, though that may not have been the wisest plan. After all, he might very well punch her now. "Do you simply not understand that she's happier not knowing? And she always will be happier not knowing."

Not that he especially cared about JJ's peace of mind. But there was no reason whatsoever to tell the girl the truth. Besides, knowing JJ as he did, he knew there was the good chance that the truth would completely unhinge her. And not in the way he intended to do it. If he was going to tell her, now wouldn't be the time.

Then he laughed, all visible signs of temper gone. "Why didn't I tell you her brother died, Eire? Why would I? It's not as if we spend our time together in deep conversation." Ferox smiled thinly. "If Ally wanted you to know, surely she would tell you herself."

And still, behind them, the girl in question was oblivious to their argument. She wasn't in a daze, no, by all appearances she was as awake and alert as ever--she was simply carrying on a conversation with someone who wasn't really speaking back.

But when Eire kept yelling at him, Ferox's control broke. His hand swung into a vicious backhand right across her mouth. It wasn't nearly as hard as he would have liked, else he easily could have taken her head off, but it was hard enough to send her sprawling.

"She doesn't need me fucking around in her life, Eire? Well, that's good, because I don't." He knelt, one elegant hand wrapping around her throat and lifting her. His voice was icily detached. "Her stepmother called me and asked me to look for Ally. I, having been the friendly neighbor for months now, concernedly agreed. Now I am going to take her home, pat her on the head, and then leave."

Ferox let go. "I haven't 'fucked around' with her mind until tonight, where you forced my hand. And you make me wonder... do you really believe Ally knowing I've killed more humans than the Korean War will make her happier and healthier, or do you just want her to know that you're right and I'm bad?"

On that note, he turned, gently set one hand on JJ's shoulder. "Anna's probably worried sick, let's get you home so you can wash those scrapes, alright?" She nodded, unaware that any time had passed or what had taken place. Gratefully, she took his hand as he helped her up and held on to Hooligan's leash with the other.

Eire knew he was right... But at this moment... She didn't care about anything other than getting JJ away from Felix. But knowing just what he was... JJ wasn't strong enough... But... She'd be there to help her! That was why she was doing this.

She had been advancing on him, determined to get JJ away when he struck. The blow cracked her hard. Harder than she'd ever really felt before and it left her laying on the pavement, tasting her own blood as she tried to regain her senses.

Panicking though as Felix grabbed her throat and held her up she tried to get him off of her, but he was too far away to kick and she was two weak to break his grip. "Let... me go..." She choked out.

But he tossed her down a few moments later and she coughed a bit as she readjusted to her normal breathing patterns. He really was an ass... A cruel bastard who'd do anything to get what he wanted...

And something told her that... This... This wasn't quite over.

Nor was he going to be as gentle the next time he called on her.

Spitting slightly Eire spat out the bit of blood from biting her cheek and stood to her feet. She wasn't going to let him get away with this... Not if she could help it... Not if she had a damn thing to do with it.

She wanted to stop him, she hated herself for letting him walk away! But what choice did she really.... really have? Felix would only smack her again, beat her later and try to teach the hardheaded girl a lesson. One of course that she wouldn't understand. She'd get him later though.... She'd get him.

**One Short Day Later**

It was child's play to find Eire's dormitory room. Ferox had simply hacked the university's pitiful security system and scanned the residence records until he'd found her name. Room 212 in Vinquette Hall.

So easy it was almost boring.

Taking the guise of any other college student, Ferox walked across the campus. He wore, like countless others, battered jeans, Nikes, a t-shirt, and a black cloth jacket. Also, a hat with the DU Chargers logo was snug on his head and an olive green backpack slung over one shoulder. He blended in perfectly.

Of course, the bookbag didn't hold books, but no one could see that.

Swiping the ID card he'd lifted from a passing student, Ferox pulled open Vinquette's front door, casually flipping a wave at the studying girl behind the front desk. He took the stairs up to the second floor. The door to 212 was, of course, locked, but that was no problem. It unlocked from the inside and he pushed it open.

It was large for a dorm room. Standard setup with the door opening to a common area in the middle that had a television set and a couch. To the right was a small kitchen area with microwave, sink, minifridge, etc. Between the common area and the kitchen area was a short hall. Both sides were identical, a sink and mirror, a shower on either end, and a door by the sink.

Ferox didn't immediately see anyone, but he knew someone was there. It should be Eire's roommate a Jessica A. Glasgow according to records. He cocked his head to the side as he heard muffled music. Setting his rucksack on the sink counter, Ferox opened the door from which the music came.

The blond inside looked up in surprise. "Hey, what're you--" She began.

"Go to sleep," Ferox interrupted. Without another sound, the blond's eyes rolled back and she began to fall. He caught her before she could hit the floor. Effortlessly, he cradled her as one would a baby, her head lolling back and limbs limp. The light clicked off as he left the bedroom.

Now to set the scene. Carefully, he lowered the girl to the couch, head on the pillow and arms at her sides. His backpack floated towards him and from it Ferox took a short length of rope. Dark grey eyes flickered over the sleeping girl.

The rest of the lights clicked out.

She was exhausted...

Night time chemistry was an ass kicker... especially when you could barely stay awake past nine o'clock. Yawning she made her way up to her dorm, pushing the door open she tossed her bag on to the floor.

"Jess..." She muttered. "You still awake?" Yawning again she began to fumble around in the dark for the lightswitch. Usually Jess left the hall light on when she went to bed early... But that was always so odd when she went to bed early.

But she couldn't find it...

God... Who cared. She was just going to bed anyway, who cared.

But as she moved down the hall she suddenly tripped and fell. But as she fell onto her face she gave a soft groan. Maybe she'd just... Just lay here... Yeah...

It would have been the perfect cliche to click the lamp on right about now. But Ferox, naturally, wasn't much the type for cliches. Also, there was no lamp.

All of the lights came on, blindingly bright after the pitch-blackness. From his position casually perched on the wooden arm of the sofa, Ferox studied the sprawled out Eire. "Always the picture of grace, sugar," he intoned dryly.

The vampire was at the end of the couch that Jessica's feet were, her hands were tied to the other arm above her head. She was still deeply asleep and would be until he told her to wake up.

She threw her arm over her eyes as she sat up.

Baring her teeth at the voice she growled like he fierce animal inside her gut. "Usual I am. Just two fucking exhausted not to trip over my own feet." She snapped, of course blaming him for her condition. She would get out of breath often, tired, exhausted... And she was always so cold...

Her eyes adjusting to the sudden light she saw her roommate tied up, next to Felix.

"What the hell did you do to her? You better not have hurt Jess. I swear to god I'll have someone hunt you down and kill you... I dunno why I didn't ask her to get rid of the both of you to begin with..." She snarled.

"Why are you here Felix? Make it quick and get the fuck out after you fix Jess up." She demanded. "I don't have time to fuck around with you tonight. She had to get some sleep, with a nine o'clock class in the morning, she had to get to bed soon if she wanted to get up in time.

"Have someone hunt me down? What're you going to offer them?" Ferox asked dryly, not expecting an offer. "I haven't touched dear Jessie," he added, running the tip of one finger down the girl's bare arm. He smiled sarcastically. "Well, I haven't harmed her in any case."

The vampire leaned back, apparently at ease as Eire spewed venom at him. Ferox studied Eire, her pale skin and hollow eyes, eyes that were currently fever-bright with anger. "Go ahead. It'll take a couple of days, at least, for them to track me down. In which time I can kill everyone important to you." He smiled again. "It would be terribly easy. I got in here without using anything except," Ferox tapped a finger against the side of his head.

"I put my mind to it... Everybody you care about could be dead before the sun rose." He leaned down, cupping one hand against her neck. "You never said I couldn't kill anyone anymore, sugar. Not even you."

Eire gritted her teeth as he spoke, but she fell silent...

He wouldn't dare... He wouldn't dare go have her family, her father, mother and little brother... If he touched them... Her body was shaking with rage... Fear. She'd have Chi after him... All she'd have to do was tell the woman what he'd done... What he wanted to do.

"Don't touch me." She said as she moved away from his hand.

"What do you want Felix? Why are you here? Still mad at me for trying to tell JJ about you? About the monster you really are?" Her voice was angry, yet soft. He wouldn't dare kill her. He wouldn't dare hurt her... He'd have so many after him... He'd be dead before he could get anywhere.

"Leave my family alone... If you touch them... Of you hurt them or get anywhere near them... I swear I'll kill you. Leave them out of this, they haven't done a damn thing to you...."

"No? Oh, come on, sugar. We've done plenty of touching," Ferox said coldly, his fingers biting into her chin as she shifted away. "I'm just giving you a friendly warning. You keep your mouth shut to JJ, I stay away from them."

His eyes were as cold and blank as stone as they bored into hers. "I know what you're thinking. I'd never do it. I'd be too afraid of whatever big bad dog you find to put on my trail. You'd be wrong. I've been around for a very long time, Eire, I know how to hide. And, failing that, I'm not all that afraid to die. Certainly, I'd prefer not to, but..." He shrugged lightly.

"You keep calling me a monster, yet don't seem all that afraid of me. Maybe you should be." Ferox leaned down until his lips brushed hers. "You and yours would all be dead before Jean or Eamon or Alex... or even your ancient friend Chi could help you."

"I'm not afraid of you... Or anyone." Eire snapped, holding back the tremors as he grew closer.

As he kissed her lightly her hand swung sharply, slapping him. "You think you can scare me? You think that you can make me scream in fear or pain? You... You can't control me Felix, I'm not afraid..." Eire said defiantly, her eyes sharp. She hadn't once cried out in pain... In fear for him. She never cried out because of them either, never more than the softest of whimpers. Pleasure? Yes... She had given him that, she couldn't deny it.

"Stay away from my family... I'm not afraid of night time monsters... I'm not afraid of you Felix..." Her voice was softer now, making sure she didn't attract attention from the hall. "Untie Jess... Wake her up and get out of here... You can't fuck me here, and you're not going to get much if you're after blood."

Other than his eyes narrowing, Ferox showed almost no reaction as Eire slapped him. "Maybe you're too brave for your own good," he said softly, snatching her hand. Straddling her, he used his weight to pin her to the floor. "You think you're indestructible," he continued, his voice hardly above a whisper. He twisted his hand, slowly, until he felt the bones began to give.

"You're not."

"You should have thought long and hard before making a deal with me, little girl. Should have thought long and hard about the terms." His free hand curled around her throat, his thumb pressing hard just below her jaw. "You can't threaten me."

He squeezed just a little bit harder. "And you can't give me orders."

"Maybe I am." She glared up at him.

A moment later she was pinned to the floor, his body holding her down. She gasped softly as he began to turn his hand, twisting her wrist, but she grit her teeth against the pain. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction, no she couldn't give it to him.

"Get off o-" But his hand gripped her throat hard, his thumb pressing against her lower jaw. But she didn't need to talk, she knew Felix could hear her thoughts. "Get the hell off of me. Let me go Felix." Her mental voice was a hiss. She wanted to get rid of him forever, wanted to get rid of him this very moment. "I'm not afraid of you. I hate you more than anything else... I want you dead. You can't control me Felix. I won't let you." She said fiercely.

"What did I just say about orders, sugar?" Felix said silently, forcing her head back so she was looking up at the ceiling. "Hate me all you want. But you will stop giving me ultimatums." He didn't take kindly to being issued orders by some scrap of a girl a fraction of his age.

Felix's dark eyes studied her face, the way her teeth gritted, heard the tiny gasp. Slowly, still gazing intently at her, he twisted his hand more, until he felt the bones begin to falter against the stress. Not breaking, not quite, but nearly.

Her body shuddered as he tilted her head back. Was he really going to drink from her? He... He wouldn't be able to take much at all before she passed out. But that thought vanished from her mind as he began to twist her wrist even more.

The pain was excruciating, and Eire had to struggle to keep her throat from letting out a whimper. She couldn't let him... She wouldn't let him make her cry out. Not even if he broke it... Not even if he twisted it until he snapped.

"Felix..." She murmured. "Stop... Let me go-" She thought about adding please, to that but she refused. She didn't care. Her wrist would heal, her pride wouldn't. She wouldn't make a noise.

As it was the only signs of her pain were her gritted teeth... And as she closed her eyes, a single tear fell down her face. The pain... He had to stop, he had to let her go. why wouldn't he leave her? Why did he have to stay here?

"No," Ferox said silently, holding the pressure on her wrist steady. Any more and the bones would finally give under the assault and break. He could feel it. Could feel it in the way she trembled slightly, could see it as she clenched her teeth.

His fingers dug into her chin as she closed her eyes.

Shifting, he forced her head to turn, until she was facing the still unconscious and still bound Jessica. His bag unzipped and from it a thin stiletto floated. It was an interesting weapon. It wasn't a knife, it had no blade, it was simply a long, thin piece of metal with a flat, sharpened point--almost like a giant nail or needle.

"Say, 'please, Felix, leave here and let me go'," Ferox said, aloud this time, though his voice was a whisper. The stiletto moved towards Eire's roommate, the syringe-like point directly over the girl's closed eye.

Eire opened her eyes as he turned her head... There must have been something he wanted her to see... Nothing that could have been good.

She gasped as she saw him threatening Jess with the object. It looked like an ice pick...

"No!" She whimpered. "Please! Don't hurt her!" It was out before she knew it. She couldn't be stupid and let her pride get her killed, or anyone else for that matter. She'd swallow her pride in an instant for others... Friends... Loved ones... That was her weakness, and he seemed to know it well.

"I don't care if you hurt me Felix! Just don't hurt anyone else, please! You know that." She said, still fierce as ever. She tried to move slightly, but she knew if she moved her wrist even one degree more... It would twist. "Just do it already! If you want to try and hurt me, do it Felix!" She wasn't going to cry, she wasn't going to scream... Not in front of him, never.

"I don't care what you do to me, I never have." She said through gritted teeth. She had always been able to put her pain away, hold it back... But it was getting so hard...

"Altruists. Wear their weakness on their sleeve," Ferox taunted, releasing Eire's wrist. Everybody had a weakness. Little Eire's was her overwhelming urge to protect others, even at a cost to herself. It was so obvious; how could he not exploit it?

He still held her by the throat, his fingers clenching hard enough to bruise, though he hardly realized it. She had a way about her that irritated him, like a stone in his boot, or a dog at his heel.

Burying one hand in her hair, the other still curled around her neck, Ferox moved as if to sink fangs into her throat. But he didn't. Instead, his mouth came down hard on hers, the faint taste of anger on his lips--like faint curls of smoke.

A soft sigh escaped Eire's lips as he let go of her wrist. Her face relaxed, as did the rest of her body. He was still straddling her, his hand around her throat, but it didn't bother her. She could breath fine... The way he grabbed her throat didn't cut of her air, but it was still tight, it still hurt a bit.

Eire gave a little moan as he grabbed her hair. She couldn't explain it... But the way he treated her sometimes... The way he...

He kissed her hard... Hungry... Angrily.

She couldn't help but return the kiss, couldn't help but kiss him just as angrily, just as furiously. Eamon's kisses were never like that... They were soft... Warm and loving. There was passion yes, but it was nothing like this. It was as if he hated her... As if he would enjoy nothing better than suffocating her here and now.

But he wouldn't.

"What do you want from me..." She murmured softly as her good hand moved up to the side of his face.

He was never clumsy, his hands ripped at her shirt deftly, not fumbling with the buttons. It was always a surprise at how strongly she responded to him and, in turn, him to her.

All passions had their roots in the same place, though. Ferox wondered if she could feel it in his touch, his desire for her pain and not just her body. His hand squeezed her breast hard as the kiss warred between them.

What did he want from her? Half the time, great big fountains of blood. But right at the moment, he was running on a passion that was even more basic.

Sharp cries and slick skin, that's what he wanted. Sex that was more like a battle than a coupling. Ferox wanted to bleed off his irritation, and couldn't think of a better way to do it.

His lips took in her hungry moan as he squeezed almost painfully at her breasts. Apparently she had been wrong, he would fuck her here and now... She knew on the carpet, her back would be rubbed raw... But she knew even if she said something, he wouldn't take her to her bed... No, not when he could cause her more pain.

They hated each other... Eire could think of no person she would rather see dead now other than him... Just see him dead before her... And it was probably the same likewise. Was that what brought out such fury and passion with them? Was that why... When he kissed her, when he touched her, her body always responded so quickly, so strongly.

It had to be.

The way her body pushed against him, was she trying to et closer or ro get rid of him? It was hard to tell.

"Harder... or get the fuck off..." She whispered in his mind. Yes, she needed to hate him more. She wanted to hate him, a reason to despise him with everything she had in her.