I Hadn't Gotten Far When I Ran

Somehow, Sydney Had An Internal Clock That Told Her When Time Was Up. I Think It Was Part Of Her Inherent Ability To Keep Track Of A Hundred Things At Once. Not Me. In These Moments, My Thoughts Were Usually Focused On Getting Her Shirt Off And Whether I’d Get Past The Bra This Time. So Far, I Hadn’t.

My Captivity With Dimitri. The Way His Mouth—so, So Warm, Despite His Cold Skin—had Kissed Mine. The Feel Of His Fangs Pressing Into My Neck And The Sweet Bliss That Followed... He Looked Exactly The Same Too, With That Chalky White Pallor And Red-ringed Eyes That So Conflicted With The Soft, Chin-length Brown Hair And Otherwise Gorgeous Lines Of His Face. He Even Had A Leather Duster On.

I Pulled Out Box After Box, Setting Them Haphazardly Around The Room. My Organization Lacked Something - Like, Say, Organization.

He Almosted Smiled. "there You Go Again. Why? Why Do Yo Keep Helping Me?" There Were A Million Answers On My Lips, Everything From It's The Right Thing To Do To I Don't Know. Instead, I Said, "because I Want To.

ʺwe Need Someone To Get The Roomʹs Attention,ʺ I Said. ʺsomeone Not Afraid To Make A Spectacle—i Mean, Besides Me, Of Course.ʺ