Izzy held her breath when Cerasus snarled, resisting the urge to back away. The anger on his face made any pity she had for him cower away. When he finally told her what had torn him apart, she nearly gave a sigh of relief. No one else would be in danger from vampire hunters, as far as she knew.
	She took a deep breath when he asked for his part of the bargain, and nodded stiffly. Though she dreaded the thought of his fangs sinking into her skin, a deal was a deal. Unsure of what else to do, she sat her walking stick on the ground and quickly rolled up the sleeve of her scarred arm. Though she doubted it would do much with his limbs missing, at least she might be capable of easing the agony he indubitably felt in payment for his answer. 
	“Only because you said ‘please,’” she said in a meager attempt at calming her nerves as she moved closer. With her hand clenched into a fist, she placed her arm before him.