***W**HO IS SHE?* Isaac thought as he stood outside her door. He made his way back to his room and paced. *How could a human be such a puzzle? It’s like she’s lived lifetimes in only decades!*
Isaac went over her words, trying to find something off. Everything she said sounded plausible. Connor could attest to her activities even if he couldn’t pin her with evidence.
He remembered her heartbeat upon seeing Connor. It was racing; she was scared. When they got into Damian’s study, her heartbeat was calm and controlled. How could someone control their heart like that? What else could she be capable of?
Isaac thought over her words in Damian’s study.
*Had she really been kept in the dark her whole life? Had she really trained to protect her sister or for other reasons? She was comfortable killing but why would numbing his arm make her uncomfortable? How had she learned to do that?*
The questions continued to assault his mind and he could feel a headache begin to grip his temples. He considered that this many headaches so often were bad for his health as he reached for the box on his bedside table. He should probably get the Doc to check him out as well while he was here.
The doorknob to his room suddenly rattled and was followed by a heavy thump of a knock. With a growl, he moved to it and yanked it open.
Zeke didn’t bother with an invitation and pushed passed him into the room.
“Welcome, brother mine,” Isaac sighed, slamming the door shut.
Zeke paced back and forth, growling and a deep glare on his face. “We should kill her.”
Isaac froze, grateful to be blocking the door but also glancing longingly at the box of smokes he hadn’t indulged in. “Your reasoning?”
Zeke pegged him with a frown. “Are you mental? Did you hear what she said in there?”
Isaac met his gaze, unmoving. “Yes, I did. She trained herself to protect her sister from kidnappers. She has to give her sister blood transfusions every month because of her disease.”
Zeke scoffed. “You honestly believe any of that?”
Isaac shrugged. “She has no reason to lie to us.”
Zeke growled and looked ready to slam him against the wall. “Can you look me in the eyes and say you honestly believe she trained to fight like that by *herself*?”
Isaac didn’t answer for a second, fighting with himself for unknown reasons. “No.”
“She wouldn’t even tell us why her sister is so compromised,” Zeke’s large hands fisted. “If Anise is her sister. She could be lying about that too.”
“She’s her sister. It was the first thing she said to me after accepting our help. Said Anise needed protection,” Isaac rubbed his temple.
“What else did she tell you?” Zeke asked suspiciously.
“In confidence?” Isaac met his darkening eyes and sighed again. “Their father has a lot of debts. Seems like kidnapping Anise is a message about time running out to pay back.”
“And Raven took it upon herself to eliminate their debts,” Zeke growled.
“She is only acting to protect her sister,” Isaac froze. He noticed Zeke’s eyes widen.
“Feeling a kinship, brother?” he asked curiously.
Isaac crossed his own arms now. “The human lives until we know how the Doc’s treatments will affect the toxin. We could use the knowledge against the *disciples*.”
He watched Zeke let out a long sigh before his posture changed completely.
“Brother, I appreciate how you’ve had my back for centuries. I honestly wish I had gotten control over the feeding frenzy a lot sooner and had not hated myself so much after the transition. I wish I had made things easier for you,” Zeke started but Isaac held up a hand.
“I do not resent you, Z. You found your path and you’ve gifted me a beautiful niece for my efforts. I would kill every *disciple* I find for her,” Isaac grinned softly. “My responsibility with Raven is merely to fix a mistake I made and save an innocent from a terrible fate. I feel no kinship for the human nor do I care about her troubles outside of those that may affect us. We have a duty to the realms.”
Zeke eyed him closely before nearing slowly. “I will not lose you, brother. If she becomes a threat to you, I will kill her myself.”
Isaac met his brother’s gaze for a moment before glancing away uncomfortably. “I am not used to your warm sentiments.”
Zeke chuckled then. “I have become a family man. You are my family. I will defend what is mine at all costs.”
Isaac smirked at him.
“I believe I’m due this century,” Zeke continued.
Throwing all caution to the wind, Isaac grabbed his brother’s arm and pulled him into a hug. Zeke returned it before they both let their arms drop. The men cleared their throats and stepped away, glancing at the walls as if the paint were new.
Finally, Isaac moved around his brother to the box of smokes. “If that is all, brother dear,” he grinned at the sound Zeke made at that. “I have an entire day planned.”
Zeke scoffed. “Laying here and hot boxing your bedroom hardly seems productive.”
Isaac picked up a roll and the lighter. “I actually find it very productive.”
Zeke didn’t reply as Isaac lit the roll and took a deep hit. Isaac breathed out a thick puff of smoke and sighed.
“I feel uneasy, brother,” Zeke sighed. “I feel as if a change is coming.”
Isaac side-eyed him. “I thought Liam was the psychic in the house.”
“Do not jest! This feeling of unease didn’t begin until Raven snuck into our lives. Something doesn’t feel right,” Zeke ran his hand through his growing hair. “I fear the worst.”
Isaac took another drag before turning to him. “We will handle it. One human against us? She may be formidable but even she won’t win.”
Zeke sighed heavily. “For our sakes, let’s pray I am wrong about her.”
Isaac watched his brother leave and shut his door.
With a frown, he slid out of his boots and went to lock the door. Then he went to his closet to toss his clothes into the hamper, eyeing himself in the floor length mirror. He’d never really glanced at it unless he had an injury to stitch up. Yet there he was. Tan skin, his muscles prominent as they stretched his skin, thick neck, golden eyes staring back. His hair was pulled back into a low bun but as he released it and let his thick locks cascade over his massive shoulders, he could see why females flocked to him.
Except Raven.
He took another drag from the roll as he moved away from his closet in only his underwear. He threw himself onto his bed and took another drag. His brother’s words joined the swirl of colliding thoughts in his head as the smoke finally began to affect.
*Why am I so invested in Raven?* He thought as he stared up at the ceiling. *What did she lie about? How did she learn to fight like she does? Should I be more careful around her?*
He realized that he hadn’t worn a single weapon on his person today. He’d been alone with Raven twice and hadn’t even kept a safe distance. He was too comfortable around her but… was it because of her?
Isaac frowned. Raven left him more questions than answers and on the rare moment she let down her guard, she immediately closed off again. She was afraid to drop her guard, to not show weakness or emotion. She seemed to only care about one thing: Anise.
He shifted in his bed as he finished off his cigarette.
He nearly reached for another one when he remembered he’d promised Raven that they’d go to her apartment to pick up the last of her things. He sighed and relaxed into his pillows. He’d at least be able to get a nap in now that the smoke had relaxed his mind. Now he could focus on sleep and not how her green eyes eyed her surroundings until she looked at every detail. How her hair flowed over her shoulders like ink. How she had to tilt her chin up to make eye contact with him, giving him a closer look at her pink lips.
**I**saac heard his phone alarm go off and reached over to turn it off. It was six p.m. He got up and went to his closet to change. He eyed his weapons and decided on a shoulder gun harness with a magnum on both sides. Then he slid some throwing knives into the slits of his favorite jacket for a stealthier approach- should he need it.
If the *disciples* were still after Raven, he’d have to be extra careful they weren’t walking into an ambush.
He walked out of his room and went straight to Liam’s room. He knocked and waited for the purple eyed vampire.
When he did open up, he gave Isaac a weird look. Like he was looking through his soul. “You want the phone for Raven,” he stated and moved into his room before Isaac could nod.
Isaac watched as Liam returned with the cell phone in hand and handed it to him. “It’s got everything?”
“I have already programmed it with our numbers along with her sister’s. I also hid three trackers on it. We’ll be able to trace it wherever it is,”
“Three?”
“One is within the phone’s own programming. Raven is resourceful but I don’t think she’ll find all of them,” Liam shrugged.
Isaac gave him that one and pocketed the phone. “I’m taking her to her apartment tonight before the Doc calls with news. Are any surprises waiting for us?”
Liam tilted his head, his purple eyes flashing. “Not that I’ve seen. You should speak to Connor. He’s been doing drive-bys since the night she escaped. He’s at the gym. Seems Raven got restless after breakfast.”
Isaac stared and walked away from the psychic, those eyes piercing his back.
He went downstairs and down the very familiar route he usually took to the gym they had on property. As he neared the swing doors, he could hear two people grunting as if sparring. He pushed through the doors and turned to the sound. He watched as Connor threw a very precise punch at his opponent but she ducked and tripped him. He neared the mat slowly as Raven waited for the cop to get up and attack her again. Connor’s moves were full of power, as he obviously put his muscles behind his attacks, but the male was glistening with sweat and panting. Raven was dancing around his attacks, redirecting them, and seemed entirely unbothered.
In fact, she almost looked like she was enjoying herself.
Isaac could see the sparkle in her eyes as she redirected the cop’s strike. When she jumped back to dodge the cop’s sudden kick, he could swear he saw the tiniest smile before she ducked into a sweep. Connor hit the mat on his back again and Raven straightened up to stand over him.
“You’ve improved,” she noted as Connor stayed there on the mat, catching his breath.
“Jesus, woman… you haven’t hit me once,” he sat up with a slight grimace.
Raven smirked softly with a shrug. “Just wanted to see if it was true.”
Connor cursed and struggled to stand up. “What now? Rematch?”
Raven shook her head. Then she pivoted and sharply turned to fully face Isaac.
He could swear it was like she was stabbing him with just her eyes.
“I was about to look for you,” Isaac said in her silence. “Both of you, actually.”
Connor stretched his back and moved forward. “Hey, Isaac. Was just showing her the gym. What’s up?”
Isaac raised his eyebrow at the cop. “You got balls, cop. Sparring with Raven without any of us to back you up?”
Connor waved at Raven. “We’re planning to hash it out, actually.”
Raven neared them and crossed her arms. “I wanted to see his improvement. Not much of a hash out when I have to hold back too much.”
Isaac could tell she was impressed with the cop. Somehow it put a sour taste in his mouth. He cleared his throat to keep the sudden growl down. “I’ve got your new cell phone that has our numbers and Anise’s,” he handed the phone to Raven and turned to Connor. “You’ve been keeping an eye on her apartment, right?”
Connor nodded and Isaac could feel Raven eyeing them. “It’s been quiet. I think the disciples decided to leave it after Raven got away. I haven’t seen anyone in or out.”
Isaac met her eyes. “You still wanna go get some of your things? Luther wouldn’t mind setting you up with a whole closet full of new stuff.”
Raven seemed to think it over before answering. “No, I need my vitamins. They’re prescription so I should continue the routine. In case the treatments work out.”
Isaac figured she’d say that. “If you’re ready, we should go now. Before the Doc comes in later.”
Raven nodded and Connor sighed gratefully.
“I’m hitting the showers,” he picked up a towel and moved away. “We’ll set up a date later.”
Isaac watched Raven smirk softly before closing off again and he quickly turned away to hide his sudden frown. He led her to the garage and chose an SUV. He slipped into the driver’s seat while she settled in beside him.
As soon as her door closed, he caught her scent. The lavender was still there but slightly covered by her own scent. She was perspiring after her match with Connor but very faintly. She smelled amazing. Being trapped in a sealed car with her was going to be torture.
Isaac pulled out of the driveway and practically sped over to her apartment as the sun set behind them.
“Wait, the sun is still out,” Raven muttered, eyeing him.
“This car’s windows are UV resistant. Low level sunlight doesn’t hurt us in here,” Isaac explained as he drove.
Raven didn’t speak again until he drove up to her apartment building.
“Go around the block again,” Raven said.
Isaac turned to her but she was looking around them. He did as she said and began to pull back toward the front.
“Don’t park here. Park around the corner,” she instructed, eyeing something over her shoulder.
Isaac did as told and reached for the keys to turn off the engine.
“Leave it on,” Raven muttered. “I’ll be quick.”
He killed the engine and turned to her with a frown. “You’re not going up alone, Raven.”
Raven shrugged and got out of the car. He followed her as she went to the front and entered the common room. He let her lead the way to the elevator and push her floor’s button. They silently went up but he couldn’t stop focusing on her scent.
As he kept inhaling, he found himself wanting to bury himself in her hair.
*Get a grip*, he scolded himself and schooled his face as the doors opened.
Raven strode to her apartment door where she stopped. She tilted her head as if listening for anything inside. He didn’t need to focus so intently; if he did, he’d be able to hear her heartbeat. He watched as she reached for the doorknob. He knew she figured the intruders hadn’t bothered to lock her door and he agreed with her. Though the thought made him nearly push her aside to go in first. He fought the urge as she opened her apartment and let the door swing wide open.
The air in her apartment was cold but her living room was empty.
Even in the darkness, evidence of the fight was still everywhere; The flipped over coffee table, the sofa cushions thrown around, the broken table near the kitchen. Near the back of the apartment, books and drawers were also thrown about.
Raven entered her apartment without making a sound and eyed every corner, including the rafters overhead. He wondered if they had ambushed her from above. She never mentioned details of that night to him.
“Clear,” she whispered before swiftly moving toward her bedroom.
Isaac followed after closing and locking her front door, equally as quiet. He waited as Raven opened her bedroom door and covered the door as she went in to check her bathroom next. They didn’t bother turning on the lights.
“It’s empty,” she reported a little louder.
“We still shouldn’t stay long,” Isaac looked around at the clutter in her room. Her clothes were lying messily and rumpled on the bed and floor. There wasn’t much and the torn open drawers looked empty. Even the bed’s mattress was thrown aside.
Raven came out of her bathroom, holding a container of pills. “There,” she looked around the room too, her expression hardening. “They’re really thorough.”
Isaac turned to her. “What were they looking for?”
Raven shrugged, eyeing her stuff on the floor. “Probably anything they could use to track me.” She bent down and picked up a backpack. She threw the pills in it and opened her closet.
Isaac watched as she reached to the very back of the wall where he barely made out a box in the shadows before she pulled it out. She opened it and he watched her load her backpack with guns and a few blades. Eyeing the backpack, Isaac could feel his mind threatening to overload with questions he wanted to ask. But he knew she wouldn’t answer so he moved back out of her room and toward the living room.
After a few seconds, Raven followed and moved toward the kitchen. She opened her refrigerator and took out an oat milk carton, fitting it into her bag. Then she went through a few cupboards to pack a few snacks and returned to his side.
That’s when he noticed why the apartment was cold; through the kitchen was a broken window. There was no glass on the inside so he guessed something was thrown out.
“Ready,” Raven moved back to him.
“That’s all?” he couldn’t help but ask.
“I don’t need much,” Raven shrugged.
“You don’t have anything that could spoil in there?”
Raven shook her head. “I usually ordered take out. The rest is canned food.”
“What about the apartment?” he asked.
Raven seemed to think about that for a second. Then she motioned toward the window, “Well, my deposit is gone and I’ve been paying in cash. I will send an email to the landlord to end my contract.”
Isaac stared. “You don’t plan to return?”
Raven met his eyes with a frown. “If I survive the treatments and don’t become a *disciple*, I can find a new one.”
He could feel his jaw clenching at how casually she talked about just uprooting and moving on. He forced his yap shut and only gave her a curt nod. Then he let her lead the way out of her apartment. He locked the door after himself and they made their way to the elevator.
“I noticed you didn’t pack much clothes,” he pointed out and watched her reaction as they stood a foot apart.
“You said Luther could set me up with more,” she shrugged.
He could tell she was uncomfortable but couldn’t figure out why. “What happened to your window?”
Raven’s lips stretched in a small smirk. “It’s how I got away from the *disciples*.”
Isaac stared at her. “You jumped out of the window?”
Raven nodded and actually looked a little proud. “It was the only exit they weren’t ready for. It hurt less than I thought it would.”
Isaac let her walk ahead of him when the elevator opened and followed. He shook his head to snap out of his surprise at learning of her escape route. Except, he was more surprised that he felt oddly proud of her. He unlocked the car and got back into the driver’s side. “Any other stops before heading back?”
Raven eyed the clock on his dash before thinking over something. She winced and shook her head, glancing away as if not wanting to answer.
Isaac turned on the engine and tried again, “Where to?”
Raven met his eyes with a blank expression. “Shouldn’t we get back to get the Doc’s prognosis?”
“He’ll call me and we can head back,” he watched something flare to life in the depths of her green irises. “Where did you want to go?”
Raven eyed the dash again. “I wanted to see Anise. She’s probably not in bed yet.”
Isaac nodded once and drove toward the college. He pulled out his cell and dialed Ruben, who had watch that night.
“Before you ask, yes I am at the college,” Ruben answered quietly.
“Good, we’re coming in for a visit,” Isaac answered.
“We switching shifts?” Ruben asked curiously.
“No, the Doc should have news tonight so we gotta head back. We’ll be there for fifteen,” he looked to Raven who nodded.
“The kid’s at her desk with headphones on,” Ruben reported.
Isaac hung up. “You should call her or something. She’s got headphones on.”
Raven pulled out her old cell phone and quickly sent a text. She received a reply just as they arrived and he pulled into the parking lot closest to the girl’s dorm.
“She can’t see you,” Raven said when he’d unbuckled his seat belt.
Isaac killed the engine and turned to her stern gaze. “She won’t.”
“I don’t need a sitter,” Raven frowned, opening her door.
Isaac used his speed to get out of the car and around to her just as she slammed her own door shut and turned. He watched her shoulders tense before immediately relaxing when she met his eyes. “Deal with it. I cannot allow you to be compromised.”
Raven frowned up at him. “You my handler or something?”
He could tell she didn’t like the idea but wasn’t about to explain the situation here. “Or something.”
Raven sighed and masked her expression again. “Just don’t be seen.”
He bit back his retort as he followed her to her sister’s dormitory and stayed around the corner while she knocked on the door.
“Hey, Ray,” a soft voice welcomed her.
“Surprised?” Raven asked, her voice sweet and nothing like he’d ever heard from her.
“A little but you have weird hours,” the soft voice replied.
“You gonna let me in or is Susan gonna have a fit?” Raven asked.
“She’s not back yet. Went to some party across campus,”
The door shut and he moved closer to it.
Anise’s room was at the end of the hallway on the first floor. The hallway was lit by the moonlight from the giant window right by the door. He understood Raven’s urgency to get surveillance on the girl; this was a very exposed setting.
He leaned on the wall beside the door, trying not to eavesdrop but he could hardly help it. When would he get another chance to learn about the woman who gave him migraines?
He picked up on their laughter and focused.
“How are you?” Raven asked before he heard her gasp. “What happened??”
“Relax!” Anise grumbled. “Just a paper cut. I’m fine.”
He could hear a rapid heartbeat before it slowed. It was Raven’s.
“Are you sure?” she asked, her voice betraying her worry. “How long was the bleeding this time?”
“Only a few hours,” Anise answered with a sigh. “Relax. I’m fine.”
Isaac heard the heartbeat slow back to normal as Anise continued,
“We went to the café like three days ago, why the sudden visit?”
“I missed you,” Raven’s voice replied softly and Isaac froze.
“Gross!” Anise giggled and he heard Raven join in.
“Fine, the truth?” Raven sighed. “I found work as a masseuse at a hotel.”
“Seriously?” Anise squealed.
“Yeah but downside is, they want me to transfer between hotels in shifts,” Raven continued. “So I won’t be in my apartment often. You’ll need to call me so I can tell you if I’m home or not.”
“Are they providing you a room if you stay over?”
“Yup,” Raven confirmed.
“Wow, that sounds so great,” Anise sighed. “Does that mean I won’t see you this weekend?”
Isaac could hear the disappointment in the girl’s voice.
“No,” Raven sounded equally disappointed. “We’ll have a movie night soon though.”
“That’s fine. Midterms are in like three weeks so I should study my ass off,” Anise answered. “Oh, wait… the appointment.”
He felt the heartbeat pick up again.
“You did set it up, right?” Raven asked, her voice a bit stern.
“Yeah but…”
“Hey,” he heard Raven’s voice suddenly turn gentle; as if she was talking to the most precious thing in the world. “I know needles freak you out. I know you hate doing this alone. If I can make it, I’ll be there with you. If not, we can talk on the phone like that one time.”
God, if he had a beating heart, he was sure it’d break.
“Deal?” she asked and he heard the girl’s muffled reply. “Okay. I should go. I don’t wanna keep you up. What time is your first class tomorrow?”
Anise sighed heavily. “Ugh at seven in the morning.”
“Quit whining,” Raven scolded playfully. “You only have this and next year. Then you get to graduate and fail at being an adult.”
He heard a soft slap before he felt the air leave his lungs. *Sweet Goddess!* Raven was laughing; loudly and sincerely laughing.
“I’m so not gonna miss you,” Anise grumbled as Raven settled.
“I still love you, Ani,” she replied sincerely.
Their footsteps moved closer and Isaac used his speed to quietly make it around the corner again just as the door opened.
“Yeah, yeah,” Anise mumbled.
“What, you’re not gonna say it?” Raven teased, sounding slightly hurt.
“No,” Anise replied definitively.
Next, he heard the girl squeal again and peeked around to see Raven’s arms around the girl’s middle, hugging tightly.
“You’d better or you’re gonna have an early bedtime,” she warned.
Anise grunted as she struggled in her sister’s hold. “Get off!”
“That doesn’t sound correct,” Raven answered. “Try again.”
“I hate you,” Anise gasped.
“Guess you’re going to bed sooner than you thought,” Raven’s arms tightened.
“Fine!” Anise gasped in air. “I love you too!”
Raven still didn’t let go but her arms relaxed. “I’m not gonna see you for a while so you’d better make sure I remember it.”
Isaac felt himself grin. He’d done this same thing to Zeke centuries ago. Before they had transitioned… when they were kids. Zeke wouldn’t give up his favorite toy so he’d forced him through suffocating hugs.
“I love you,” Anise sighed and Raven dropped her arms.
“I’ll text you tomorrow. Get some sleep,” Raven ordered. “And lock the door.”
Anise agreed and closed her door.
Raven didn’t move away until they heard the lock on the door. Then she took a deep breath and turned to the window, looking up at the dark sky. He waited, not daring to move, as she finally turned and moved back toward him. When she turned the corner, he followed her outside and back to the car. Yet as soon as they closed their doors,
“How much of that did you hear?” she demanded.
Isaac met her frown and tried to hide his own guilt. He should not have been listening. “Only the last part in the hallway. I tried to ignore the rest.”
“Tried?” she repeated dangerously.
*I keep forgetting she’s good at picking up information. Fucking moron!* He casually started the engine, trying to act like her stare didn’t bother him.
“I wasn’t trying to listen in,” he muttered.
“But you did,” she wasn’t asking.
Before he could reply, his phone rang and he quickly answered it, grateful for the escape.
“Doc?” he asked.
“Greetings, Master Isaac,” the Doc answered. “You had wished I call you about my results. Is Ms. Raven there with you?”
“She is,” he glanced at her narrowed green eyes as he pulled out of the lot. “We’re headed back in.”
“Good. I had hoped to share my findings with both of you at the same time,” the Doc said.
“Is it good news?” he asked as he sped them back toward the house.
“I would much rather speak to both of you,” the Doc insisted.
Isaac fought a growl and hung up without a word.
“What’d he say?” Raven asked, the venom in her voice gone now.
“He wants to speak to us both,” he answered.
Raven settled back in her seat and didn’t speak.
He shot her a quick glance and saw the mask back in place.
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