We stared at each other for a very long time. I don't know why he didn't look away, but I knew why I didn't. Everyone else was standing a little ways off, looking nervous. Jay came through the door behind me, freezing at the atmosphere.

"Why is there a human in the house?" he asked, walking around me.

"Victoria..." Nick walked up to me slowly.

All I could see was the human, the vile thing standing in my house where I lived. He did not belong here. He was purely human, I smelt it. Why was he staring at me like that?! Damn it what is his problem?!

"Victoria," Nick was by my side now. "Your eyes are black."

I blinked furiously, looking down. DAMN IT!

"What is he doing here?" I glared up at Matt. I didn't like this. Not one bit.

"We should all go into the living room," he sighed. "I'll explain."

Everyone got into the living room, but there was an uneasy tension in the air. The human made no attempt to talk to anyone, he trailed behind Matt like he was the only one keeping him alive. He was probably right. I wasn't the only one who hated humans, though I was the one that hated them most.

Chris and Ray were on edge too, they knew what human's had done to their races, were still doing. Nina didn't mind them at all, neither did Nick or Jay, I wasn't sure about Justin. I also knew that Matt wasn't going to let us know how he feels about humans any time soon.

Everyone settled into armchairs, spaced around the room. The human leant against a wall beside the door. Chris growled softly when he brushed his arm going through the door. When he tried to catch my eye, I flat out death glared him. Stupid human.

"Okay everyone," Matt sighed, standing in front of the TV. "I've known about this for two days now, but I honestly didn't know how to break it to you."

"Get to the point," Chris growled. "What is it doing to here?"

"He is called Clay, and he is joining the I taskforce."

We all stared at him in frozen shock, even Justin. I didn't think Justin could look shocked.

"No."

"Victoria..."

"I said no." I looked him straight in the eye. "Not while I'm here."

"He's staying."

"Then I'm leaving."

I stood up and walked very calmly to the door. Before I could pass, the human stuck his arm out, blocking my way. I stiffened as I walked into it and my waist touched his arm. Still, I refused to move.

"Please don't leave on my account," he smirked at me, his voice aristocratic and sarcastic.

"I wasn't planning on killing you," I looked up at him very calmly, meeting his sky blue eyes with mine. I felt their color fall away as they turned black. He just stared at me, making no effort to move. I bared my teeth. "Don't make me regret that choice. Get off."

"No."

I just stared at him. Was he suicidal? Did he want to die? Maybe he did. I should do that for him then.

I threw an arm out, crashing into his jaw and sending him flying across the wall and into another one. Unfortunately the bastard hooked my waist and took me with him.

"There will be no fighting!" when I looked up, Matt was standing over us. I'd hit my head on the wall hard, making stars dance in front of my eyes. I vaguely realized that the human's arm was still around my waist.

With a snarl I jumped to my feet, throwing the human across the room. Nina caught him, her face blank. Then he started laughing.

The bastard laughed at me!

I surged across the room, ready to kill him this time, but Nick grabbed me.

"Don't Vi!" he yelled, tackling me to the floor.

"GET OFF!" I screamed. "I'M GOING TO KILL HIM! I'M GOING TO KILL THAT DISGUSTING HUMAN!"

"Now that's not nice," the human laughed.

Nick shot him a glare.

"If you don't shut up I'll kill you myself."

"Nina heal the hu- Clay and show him to his room," Matt took control. "Nick take Victoria to her room, lock her in. Use the injection if you have to."

I went very still. In case we got out of control, the government developed injections to knock us out, one day for every millimeter used. I hated it, it made me feel weak. It was human's fault. Always human's fault.

"Nick get off," I whispered.

"Vi-"

"Please, I'm fine."

After a long look and me refusing to meet his eyes, he jumped up. I jumped up myself and let out my wings. I flew to my room as fast as I could; which was pretty damn fast.

Two annoying humans in one day... damn it. I try to avoid them, if I'm too close to one for too long... there were consequences. Not to mention that I hate them all to hell. Or should I say home.

Having a human in the mansion... this was going to be bad. The nightmares were going to start again.

NICK POV

Damned human. He hurt Victoria. I saw it in her eyes, he didn't just hate humans, she was afraid of them too. Why? Why would she be afraid of such a weak race...?

She never talked about her past, not many of us did. Still, there is something that she's desperate to hide. I could ask Matt, but I doubt he'd tell me.

I watched as Nina healed the stupid human. He was thinking about something, something important from the look of concentration on his face. From what I just saw, he's a weak fighter. He probably won't survive his first mission. I hope he doesn't.

Maybe I should go talk to Victoria... I wanted to see her, to make sure she was alright. Damn this all. I pushed a strand of black hair out of my eyes. I wanted to know what the human was thinking, it was infuriating.

"He's thinking about Victoria," Matt murmured from beside me. I stiffened.

"Why?"

"He's thinking that he knows her from somewhere."

"Does he?" I didn't like this at all.

"Not him, but his family."

"What do you mean?" I didn't like the undercurrent of hate in his voice. Matt didn't hate people, he just didn't.

"Ask Victoria about her past, but whatever you do, don't link it to the human."

"But-" I looked over at him, but he was already walking over to Nina and the human.

I better go see Victoria, now rather than later. I passed through the door, looking over at the dent in the wall. I grit my teeth, that had to have hurt her.

If only I'd been faster... but still. When I heard her say that she was leaving I froze up. I had no idea what to do let alone say... If she only knew. No, if only I was strong enough to tell her. I let my wings out and flew up the stairs.

I love you Vi...

VICTORIA POV

I got changed into a silk nightdress, locked my door and went to bed. I willed myself not to remember, prayed that I wouldn't have nightmares... but God never listens to me.

'My my what do we have here?'

I lay on my stomach, remains of my dress clinging to my skin. There had been too many.. too many hunters... I couldn't deal with them all... At least I was alive. They had left me for dead. The man towering over me I wasn't sure about. If he'd been a hunter, I would be dead.

'Go away...' I croaked. My throat felt like ash from where those damned hunters had poured holy water down it.

'That's no way to treat a noble,' the man laughed, turning me over with his foot. I was still bleeding from the stomach wound, though it had mostly healed already. I was covered where it mattered by what was once a stunning dress.

'I don't answer to human authority,' I spat, literally, on his shinny black shoes.

'How interesting,' he smirked. 'Guards, take this girl to my estate, have her cleaned up and chained to the bed in the guest bedroom.'

My eyes widened in terror. I didn't have the strength to fight him in this condition. Lord what is he going to do to me... No, I shouldn't ask you Lord. You have forsaken me a long time ago.

He plunged the knife into my shoulder, laughing when I screamed in pain. Agony ripped through my body, but the human relished in it. No... not human... he was more demon than I will ever be...

Then he stared undoing his belt. I froze, barely breathing. No... not that... anything but that... he climbed on top of me...

I woke up screaming.

Fear washed through me, wave after wave of absolute terror. My room was dark... the door burst open, right off it's hinges and horror racked through my entire being. It was him... it had to be him...

I sprung from the bed, terror choking off any sound and all of my thought. I sprinted to the window, throwing it open.

Get out... I have to get out... I have to get away...

Something caught my waist. Him... I screamed again, clawing at the arm.

"GET OFF OF ME!" I screamed in terrified anguish.

He jerked me back into the room, and onto the floor...no no please no... I fought as he tried to pin my arms. NOT AGAIN! I WON'T LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN!

I threw out an arm, hitting him under the jaw. He flew off me and I scrambled to my feet, running for the door. I ran faster. I didn't know where I was going, I didn't care. Something was wrong... this wasn't that man's manor... but I didn't care. Terror had stolen all of my reason and all I could do now was run.

I made it down the hall. The guards weren't coming for me yet. I ran straight into a stone wall. It was a wall that shouldn't have been there...

"Victoria calm down." I froze. No, wait, I know that voice. I turned slowly. Justin was staring at me, eyes calm, but worried.

"But-" I choked out.

"Dream," he told me sternly. "It was just a dream."

"But he came after me!" I cried. "He grabbed me!"

"That was Nick," he told me calmly. "Everyone is in your room now."

"I-" I fell to my knees. Justin turned around and walked back down the hall. Probably to get the others... no, I didn't want them to see me like this. I tried to get up, but my legs just wouldn't hold me.

I crawled to the wall and leaned against it, holding my knees.

'Are you okay with us coming over?'

'I'm fine.'

Seconds later, I heard them stop in front of me. No one knew what to do.

"Is Nick okay?" I asked in a low, dead voice.

"I'm fine," he told me. "No harm done."

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

He dropped to the floor beside me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. I let him do it, I needed comfort right now.

"I'm sorry," I whispered again.

"It's fine Vi," he sighed. "It was just a nightmare."

"Victoria?" Matt knelt in front of me. I looked up at him, but only raising my head enough so he could see my eyes. "I'm so sorry, but I have to ask... how much of that dream was real?"

I stiffened, feeling my eyes go dull as I looked at him. I knew that my eyes was enough to show him, but I felt like I had to put it into words.

"All of it."