She couldn't forgive herself, or him. She had given everything to a man she didn't know. The worst part was there was nothing she could do about it. They were bound together now, without him she would die. She couldn't even leave, couldn't go anywhere without him. Her life was irrevocably tied to his.
"Your mother rented hotel rooms for you and your younger siblings," he informed her bluntly.
She didn't answer him as she moved into the bathroom to finish packing the rest of her things. She didn't know how to fight against the hopelessness she felt. Didn't know how to change what had become her future. She still loved him, she truly did, but she could never trust him again. She didn't want to live the rest of her life like that. It was far too long of a time to be with someone she didn't trust, and who hurt her this badly. It was so very unfair.
She had never wanted this, and now, when she’d surrendered everything to him, she was acutely reminded of all the reasons she was so terrified of it in the first place. She cursed fate, and the world, for throwing her together with someone like him. Why couldn't she be stuck with someone who was honest, and good, and caring, instead of a liar and a killer?
Tears filled her eyes as she threw her toothbrush and hairbrush into a plastic zip case before heading into the bedroom. He had closed the door and was now leaning against it. His eyes were hooded as he watched her. She threw the travel case into the bottom pocket of her bag and closed it. She lifted it up and finally turned to face him.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she demanded.
"You didn't need to know." She snorted as she shook her head and turned to gaze out the window. No, he wouldn't think she would need to know. "It would make no difference anyway. You are mine, Isabelle, for better or worse. We will always be together. I tried to leave you, but I couldn't, and we will die without each other. Would it make a difference if I had told you?"
She turned back to him. "Yes. At least you would have been honest with me, now—"
"Now nothing," he interrupted.
"You hurt me!" Isabelle closed her eyes as she wrapped her arms around herself. "That is the difference.”
Stefan closed his eyes against the grief flooding him. He’d stayed away from her last night because he didn't want to see her hatred, but the hatred seemed to be gone now, and in its place was something even more painful to him. However, there was nothing he could do to stop or change it. He had tried to distance himself from his past; he should have known it would be impossible, that it would catch up with him.
"I cannot change anything."
"No, you can't, and unfortunately neither can I." She fought to keep herself under control. "I wish you had never come here, and yet..."
Her voice trailed off as she lowered her head.
"So do I, Isabelle, so do I."
She rapidly fought back the tears wanting to fall. His words wounded her more than she ever thought they would. She had found such happiness with him, had known a time of true contentment, and now it was all gone. She wasn't entirely sure she would change him coming here. Until he arrived, she hadn't known how lonely she was but never had she been this hurt before.
"I will do everything I can to keep you safe. I never thought this would happen, but there is nothing I can do about it now, and for that, I am truly sorry. You will never know how sorry."
She snorted as she shook her head. "No, I suppose I won't."
"After this is over we're leaving, Isabelle."
"What?" Her head shot up as her mouth dropped open. "I'm not leaving my home!"
"I'm no longer welcome here."
"But..."
Tears spilled down her cheeks as her words trailed off. It didn't matter; if he didn't stay then she couldn't. The overwhelming sense of loss descending threatened to swallow her whole. She'd lost everything she cared about in less than a day, and she couldn't help but blame him for it.
He couldn't stay away from her any longer; the sorrow she radiated was more than he could bear. He attempted to grab her, but she instantly backed away as she shook her head violently.
"Don't touch me!" she cried. "Don't ever touch me again!"
His hands fell limply back to his sides as he took a step back. "You'll have to forgive me eventually, Isabelle."
"I'll never forgive you!" she spat. "You've taken everything from me! If you think I'll ever forgive you, you're insane! I wish I never met you! I wish..."
Her voice trailed off as sobs racked her body. He reached for her again, but she quickly avoided his grasp.
"You will forgive me," he commanded as if that would work. "Now, let's go."
She shook her head in denial. Stefan's patience frayed as he took her arm. She cried out angrily and tried to rip free, but he refused to relinquish his hold as he pulled her behind him.
"Let go of me!" she shouted.
He spun around and grasped hold of her chin as he jerked her head up. "I will never let go of you!" he hissed. "You better get used to that, and realize nothing is ever going to separate us!"
The rage radiating from him shook her, but she refused to back down, refused to cower like she wished to. He was a killer, and they had invited him into their homes, into their hearts. Her family accepted him, considered him one of them, but they’d all been betrayed.
"It's not by choice!" she shouted at him.
"Maybe not now, but it was."
"That was before I knew you were a monster!"
Stefan clenched his jaw and refused to
