Riley sighed deeply. "I understand that you feel responsibility. It's natural to want to save your friends when they're in trouble. And I imagine that you'll want to pay him back for all he did for you when you were a vampire. But you mustn't try to imitate him. Ordinary folks like you, mediocre guys like me... We can't play the games he can. He's more aberrant than an aberration. More monster than a monster. If you try to imitate him, you'll get yourself killed.

"Even if this was entirely your responsibility, that doesn't mean you have to be the one to resolve it. The problem is that this has already started, and I don't know enough to end it quickly. This is a professional's job, not a role for an ameteur. Especially a kid like you. I may seem like a carefree person, so it may not seem like it, but I [i]am[/i] sorry you received such a serious wound. Even though it was just a prevention step, I shouldn't have had you help me on this. It was my failure as a balancer; I disregarded theory and went against policy. The harm to you is my mistake. I apologize to your parents." While it sounded like Riley was trying to comfort her, he didn't seem very serious. It almost seemed like he was amused by Izzy's powerlessness.

However, in a suddenly solemn tone of voice, he declared, "Izzy, from here on, there is nothing you can do. Nothing you can do for Trevor. It's not a matter of feelings, it's a matter of skill and power. If I had to say it, your most important work is not getting in my way."

His seriousness left no room for rebuttal, and so Izzy was forced to leave with her tail between her legs. She checked her phone, which was nearly dead, and found somewhere in the area of fifty missed calls and messages. All from her brothers, of course. On her way home, she collected her bike, which was fortunately right where she had left it when she collapsed. She passed by Trevor's house as well. It seemed much bigger in the shadows of sunset. She knew the house was empty, with Trevor missing and his parents in the hospital. The mailbox read "Hansen," and yet this wasn't a home for Trevor.

Walking in the front door, the sound of her arriving home attracted the attention of Blake, who rushed up to her with a haggard look about him. "Oh, you're home! Are you alright? God, where've you been? Me and Zach were going nuts trying to get ahold of you. Where'd you get that shirt?"