Suspicion glinted in Nyaira’s dark eyes as she cautiously opened the door into the guest room. The girl’s scent hung in the air, the smell strong and the most recent. She was here. Yet, she did not feel triumphant. Illyad and Alex were far too calm, and had scarcely moved from their seats. She looked around the room, searching for any sign of trickery, but alas, as familiar as she was with magic, sensing it was not one of her talents.
	As discretely as she could, she pulled the pocket watch-turned-compass from her pocket to pop it open, but she stopped when she noticed a faint maroon aura radiating around it. She held it out, staring at it for a moment. When nothing else happened, she slowly opened it, hoping the aura was a good sign, and not an ill omen.
	No matter which way she turned, the needle pointed firmly toward the closet.
	She glanced to the window, debating on the best way to get the human out of there. She supposed she would have to go back out the way she came, past the two men somehow with the human in toe.
	With a snort, she closed the watch, replaced it, and went to the closet.

[center]*	*	*[/center]
	Victoria held her breath when she heard the bedroom door open. She breathed deeply, trying to steady her nerves as she gripped the metal pole of the long duster she had found in the corner of the otherwise empty closet. Though she doubted it would do any good, it granted her a false sense of security; at least she [i]had[/i] a weapon, as pathetic as it was.
	She gasped and scurried to her feet, her back pressing against the closet wall as the knob turned, her eyes wide and heart pounding in her chest.
	The knob seemed to stick, as if the door was locked. The knob shifted a few more times, becoming almost frantic, before a faint reddish glow surrounded the knob and it fully turned.
	The moment the door opened, Victoria drew her makeshift weapon in front of her like a lance, and jabbed it forward as hard and fast as she could, not caring who stood in the doorway.
	Nyaira scowled and easily sidestepped Victoria’s surprise attack.
	Victoria shouted when Nyaira gripped the duster and pulled her stumbling forward, bending the pole in the process.
	Moving quicker than Victoria could perceive, one moment, Nyaira was to the side of the door, then the next she was behind her, the vampire’s fingers wrapping tightly around Victoria’s throat as she pulled the girl into her.
	Panic bloomed in Victoria’s chest as she realized [i]who[/i] she had attacked, not only for herself, but for Alex and Illyad. If Nyaira had gotten this far, what did that mean for the other two?
	“We meet again, [i]peu mortel,[/i]” Nyaira growled sinisterly in Victoria’s ear.
	Her breaths quick, fearful spurts, Victoria reached up to try prying Nyaira’s hand from her, but the vampire rewarded her vain attempt by tightening her grip, making Victoria gasp for air.
	“What...” she gasped out, “what’ve you done with Alex?”
	Nyaira only smirked, and ignored her question. “So much trouble, for such a pathetic [i]human.[/i]” Nyaira dug her manicured nails into Victoria’s neck. 
	Victoria stumbled as the vampire marched her forward, holding Victoria in front of her like a shield as they headed into the hall.
	“It seems you’ve got yourself a stowaway, Illyad,” Nyaira said darkly as they emerged into the living room. “Lookie what I found hiding in your closet!”
	Victoria looked at the two men with both relief and confusion when she realized they were both apparently fine.
	“Alex! Are you--” Victoria’s words cut off with a choke as Nyaira shifted her grip painfully.
	“So, if you two don’t mind, we’ll just be going now.” Nyaira edged toward the door, careful to not show her back.
	Victoria’s eyes pleaded with them to do something as she tried to keep the same pace as Nyaira to prevent the woman’s nails from digging further into her skin.