“I take that as a no,which means that the girl doesn’t know either.”
Stefan took another step toward him, his rage reaching a boiling point. Brian’s negligent demeanor instantly vanished as he stiffened. “You’ll stay away from her, or I’ll kill you!” Stefan hissed.
Amusement flashed over Brian’s features as he studied Stefan questioningly.“I’m merely suggesting that maybe she would like to know a little bit more about you. It would probably be in herbest interest, don’t you think?Maybe they would all like to know a little more about you. They might not beaswilling to let you stay then.I have nowhere else to go, and I need help. Youwillgive it to me Stefan, or I will have a long chat with this family.”
“I’ll kill you,”he growled.
“You could try, but I’ve still been killing Stefan, have you? Sheis a pretty girl.”
Red filled his vision asheseizedBrianby the throat. Brian instantly struck out, his claws ripping across Stefan’s chest and spilling blood.Stefan’shold on his throat tightened as he slammed a fist into Brian’s stomach, causing his breath to whoosh loudly out of him.Brianlunged forward, hissing and spitting as his fist connected with the side of Stefan’s head. The blow left him momentarily startled, but he recovered in time to block Brian’s next swing.
Brian blurred suddenly, disappearing from Stefan’s hold. He swung around asBrianreappeared behind him.Hecrouchedlow as afiercegrowl escaped him. “I’m not here to fight you Stefan!”Brianhissed.
“You’re not welcome here!”
“You either help me, or when the others arrive, you’ll be on your own.”
Stefan stood slowly, trepidation clutching his chest as Brian’s words sank in. “The others?”
Brian nodded briskly ashe rubbed his abused throat, warily eyeing Stefan. “I’m in trouble, and they’re tracking me. They’ll follow me here, and when they do, they aren’t going to leave peacefully.”
“What the hell have you done?” he bellowed.
Brian shrugged negligently. It took every ounce of controlStefanhad not to lunge at him again. Not to kill him where he stood. “I pissed off a few people.”
“Who?” he growled.
“Some of our kind, someolderonesof our kind. The ones here are young Stefan, they’ll be no match for them, and you know it.”
Running his hand tiredly through his hairStefanclosed his eyes against the fear that was squeezing his chest. If they came here, if Brian had led them here...Shit, they would kill everyone. His mind instantly sought out Isabelle. Her fear beat at him, but he didn’t open his mind to her, wouldn’t let her in to see, or hear, what was going on.
“So you want my help?” he demanded.
“You’re one of the strongest ones I know Stefan. I didn’t know where else to go.”
Stefan snorted tiredly. It had taken him a long time, and a lot of death,to become one of the strongest.He had always suspected that he would pay for it in the long run, now he knew that he had been right. His gaze darted to the house as a crushing feeling of impending doom descendedupon him. He had wanted to keep Isabelle sheltered from his past, from the darkness that lurked within his soul, to never let her know that it was there, that it existed. Now heknewthat it wasn’t going to be possible.
“That was a long time ago Brian,” he said softly. “Things are different now.”
“Not that long ago, I can still feel it in you. You may fool them, but I know what you are Stefan. We were together for a long time.”
“Things are different!” he spat.
Brian quirked a darkeyebrow at him, his eyes narrowed questioningly.“Why, because of the girl?”
Stefan’s hands clenched as fury shook his body. “You shouldn’t havecome here,”he growled.
“Well I did, now you have to decide what you’re going to do.”
He already knew what he was going to do, what he would have to do. “If I help you, you’ll leave here and never come back, or I will kill you.”
Briannodded briskly. “Fair enough.”
“If any of them get hurt, I will kill you.”
“Fine.”
“How long do you think it will be before they find you?”
