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Izzy’s trip to the bookstore had gone without a hitch. The artificial lights of the store stung her eyes for a moment, before they adjusted to the harsh brightness inside. The smell of the bookshop--the robust scent of coffee from the small café, the binding and pages of the books--was more intense than she remembered it, even more pleasurable. She paused only once, pondering on how coffee would taste to her now. Though she took a bit longer than she would have liked to find the section she needed, she found it all the same. They had a fairly good selection, considering the size of the store. After quickly choosing what she thought would be best and paying, she headed outside, the ease of the trip there boosting her confidence for the journey back.
But, as life always seems to enjoy toying with its playthings, the universe had other plans.
Izzy gasped, her back straightening at the familiar voice. How did she know that voice? She turned, taking a slight step toward a darker spot on the sidewalk where neither the streetlights nor the glow from the storefront window fully reached.
There, looking debonair, stood Trevor.
“Trevor?” she said, opening her mouth as little as possible. She cleared her throat and looked down at the books in her hand. For once in her life, she wished she had not put her hair up so she could use it to better hide her face. “S-something like that.” She shuffled nervously through the books. She needed to get rid of him, but she did not want to be rude, especially since the worst thing he had done was make her have a friend.
“My brothers take karate," she began, doing her best to sound sincere in the lie that followed. "I figure it’s time I brush up on my martial arts skills so I can give them a run for their money the next time we get in an argument.” She glanced quickly down the street. “I should probably get back before my parents start to worry.” She glanced to Trevor, gave him a halfhearted smile, then turned to head down the street, silently pleading he would simply return to the bookstore. “It was good seeing you again!"

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Izzy groaned inwardly when Trevor instead chose to follow her. She had not realized exactly how fast she was going until she noticed Trevor jogging just to keep up. She quickly slowed until he looked more like he went at a leisurely stroll, though her legs itched to go faster.
“You don’t have to,” she said a little too quickly. She gave him what she hoped was a thankful smile before looking away again, her head still slightly bent. “I mean, I don’t want to put you out or anything.”
“Sorry,” she said, rubbing the back of her neck at his comment about her speed. “One-tracked mind, I guess.” She glanced to him when he gave her one of his typical smiles. She had to admit, it was a good look on him.
She nearly choked when he mentioned “that vampire.” With the events of the past few days, she had all but forgotten that he was the one who had first unwittingly told her about Cerasus. She gave him a nervous chuckle.
“It’d be a good time to try out my kung-fu moves, running into it.” She took a cheesy stance and carefully implemented a side-kick, her back to Trevor. “Seriously, though. I’ll be fine. I don’t want to make you late getting home, or going wherever you were headed.”

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Apparently, this guy did not know how to take a hint. That, or he was simply ignoring it. After her show of a kick, she felt his gaze on her, and she shifted the weight of the books she held.
Izzy shrugged when he said he wanted to meet the vampire and his interest in such things. You don’t know the half of it, she thought sourly.
“Even if it was real,” she began, casting him a curious glance when he continued to stare at her, “I doubt it’d be as great as you think. Nothing ever is, really, once you ruin the mystery of things. It’s probably just some grumpy old guy who got lost and scared the crap outta some kids after dark.”
Izzy inhaled when he finally mentioned what he had been staring at, and it dawned on her what it must be. She had not thought to check if Cerasus’ bite mark remained.
“W-what?” She clutched her books in one arm, and reached up with her freed hand, covering the spot with her palm. “Oh, probably. I’ve been outside all day. We have some wicked mosquitoes around here. And now you’ve made me self-conscious.” She put on a scowl as she adjusted the collar of her jacket, hoping it would cover the mark. “Thanks a lot.”

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Izzy gave a quiet sigh of relief as Trevor accepted her excuse. Her panic about him noticing the bite mark turned quickly into irritation. She needed to get back. She was wasting precious time. For all she knew, Riley could return with the news Thurdge wanted to fight tonight. She tapped her books in annoyance. She had to get rid of him.
“Okay, look,” she began with a frown as he offered to tutor her, her voice harsh. She stopped and faced him for a moment, before looking away once more. “I’ve been trying to be nice. I don’t want to be walked home. I don’t need you following me around like a lost puppy. You’re a nice enough guy, don’t get me wrong, but I meant what I said when we first met. I neither want nor need friends. So, please, continue your search for that vampire, and just leave me alone.”
With a huff, she turned and continued down the sidewalk, quickening her pace by a fraction and hoping it was still a normal speed for a human.

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Izzy was almost surprised at how easily she had managed to get rid of Trevor. She felt bad for being so rude about it as she turned to watch him leave, but at least now she would hopefully be capable of finding someplace quiet to study and practice.
She turned back around and started toward the edge of town. But, alas, she did not get far before she heard--and smelt--Riley approaching her. She stopped and closed her eyes for a moment, her face toward the sky.
Please let this be a coincidence, she pleaded with the night as she turned to face Riley.
But, of course, it was not. She inhaled at the first words he said to her. “A-already?” she stuttered, her eyes widening slightly. She swallowed hard as he finished, and gave the only answer she trusted herself to give: she nodded. Without a word, she headed off toward the high school, breathing deeply to try and calm herself to no avail.

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Izzy felt Dramatic Theurge before she saw him. Just as it had the night she was ambushed, a warning spread through her body as she approached the school. Now deserted for the summer, the silence around the school was unnerving. She stopped near the side of the school, just out of sight of the athletic field. She took a few more breaths and tried to banish the fear she felt pulling at her face.
With a shaky hand, she placed her books down on the grass, squared her shoulders, and strode as confidently as she could toward their battlefield, easily clearing the fence surrounding it.
Spotting Dramatic Thurdge in the center of the field as the massive beast-of-a-vampire stood, she was sure that, if her heart had still beat, it would have stopped. Had she not known any better, she would have thought he had gotten taller. Though she did not see his zweihänder anywhere, she did not doubt that it was not too far.
She stood there for a moment, her eyes locked with his. Again, far too late, she realized she had failed to ask the important question of what the rules of the fight were. Though, one thing she was sure of, was that, for her, it was to the death.
Hoping she portrayed more confidence than she felt in her stance, she took a few steps toward Thurdge. She stopped a few yards away, standing at a slant so her left side was away from him, and held her hands in front of her in loose fists.
“May the best vampire win,” she said, her voice quieter than she had intended it to be.

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Izzy stared at him quizzically when Thurdge spoke to her in the language she had heard him use before, before he switched to English. She examined his face when he finished speaking. Was he toying with her? Trying to get her to let her guard down for an easier kill? At this point, Izzy would put nothing past, well, anyone, especially not someone who had already tried to kill her.
“Oh?” she asked warily, maintaining her stance. She watched him for any sign he planned on advancing, for any twitch that indicated he was reaching for a weapon. “Then what is it you desire?”

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Out of everything that ran through her head as to what Thurdge could possibly want, being recruited was certainly not something she had expected. Such an abrupt offer, especially after their first--and, until tonight, only--meeting. Her hands lowered slightly, but she still remained ready to defend herself. Though he looked as if he had no intention of resorting to violence, she had a feeling that could easily change on a dime.
“Why should I?” she asked, deciding it best to play along, to try and find out what his true motives were.

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Whether she imagined the flicker of condescension or not, Izzy was growing annoyed by her questions being met as such, and not just from Dramatic Theurge. It wasn’t her fault she knew nearly nothing about this world, about beasts and monsters. She scowled as he called Cerasus her master, resisting releasing the opposition that bubbled to her tongue.
“Tempting,” she began darkly, “but I’ve got a better offer on the table.” She took a deep, shaky breath. “Which brings us back to the reason we’re standing here in the first place. You stole something from Damocles, and I mean to get it back.”

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Izzy tensed at the sound that came from deep within the monstrous vampire’s chest before she realized it was only the world’s most intimidating sigh.
She cocked her head slightly as he spoke, calling her “rare” and the mouthful-of-a-title she recalled Cerasus using when she first met him.
“Fifty--” She stared at him for a moment, his sheer mountainous size almost making her reconsider so she would not have to fight him. But just almost.
I can do this, she thought in a weak attempt at building her confidence.
She swallowed hard and took a deep, quivering breath. “Thanks,” she strengthened her stance, “but I’d rather not be a part of your 'kill first, ask questions later' collection.”