Her mother wouldn't trust him if there wasn't, and the others wouldn't trust him either. Ethan told him to leave, not the others. They didn't hate him. She didn't think Ethan hated him either, but he did the same thing she would have if their roles were reversed. They were too much alike, arrogant, judgmental, and quick to anger, but also highly protective of each other. She didn't blame Ethan, and she was certain once she got everything straightened out, Ethan would come around.
She had to get everything straightened out first, and she hoped Stefan would give her a chance. That he would forgive her, and that he hadn't believed her when she said she hated him. She wished she could take those words back, but she couldn't, and he wouldn't let her into his mind to tell him she did love him. If something happened to him, she would never forgive herself. She wasn't sure she could forgive herself now. She’d been so cruel to him.
She shut the thoughts out; they did her no good now. She would talk to him tomorrow. He would be all right. He would be okay. She would beg for his forgiveness if she had to. The idea of doing that didn't exactly sit well with her, but for the first time in her life, she was willing to put her pride aside. She hoped it wouldn't, but she would do it if she had to. She owed him that much, and more, much more.
She flopped back over again.
"Would you stop doing that," Abby muttered irritably.
"You were the one talking about cookies just a minute ago," Isabelle whispered back.
"Cookies?"
"Yeah."
"I could go for some cookies," Vicky mumbled. They were one of the few human treats they’d tried and liked. "At least I'd have something good to eat while listening to Isabelle sigh and moan."
"How could you hear me over your snoring?" Isabelle retorted.
"I don't snore!"
"You snore louder than a chainsaw!"
"Yeah, you do," Abby agreed.
"Whatever," Vicky mumbled.
Isabelle rolled over to look at them. Abby propped her head up on her hand and was staring at her from over Vicky's back. Vicky scowled at her from half-lowered lids. Isabelle managed a tremulous smile as she lifted herself onto her elbow.
"I didn't mean to wake you," she apologized.
"This bed sucks anyway," Vicky mumbled.
'Isabelle!'
Stefan's voice slammed into her mind so forcefully she almost fell out of bed from the shock of it. 'Stefan?'
'They're coming, Isabelle, get to safety now!'
'What?'
'It's the men from the club, they'll find you! Go now!'
Isabelle jumped up and threw the blankets aside as his panic fueled her own to near epic levels. Her eyes instantly fell on Vicky and Abby. "Get up!" she yelled.
"What?" they demanded as they bolted up in bed.
"Get up! Now! Hurry!"
"Isabelle—"
"They're coming here. The men from the club, they're coming here!"
"Oh no!" They bounded out of bed simultaneously.
"Get in the bathroom," she commanded.
"What?"
"Isabelle—"
She grabbed Abby's arm and propelled her toward the bathroom. "Vicky, move," she urged frantically.
Vicky rushed over to the bathroom and flicked on the harsh, fluorescent light. It flashed for a few seconds before blazing to life. Isabelle blinked against the flare as she shoved Abby into the ugly little green room.
"Stay in here!" she commanded.
"Isabelle, wait! What about you?" Abby cried.
Isabelle ignored her as she raced across the room to grab the tiny wooden chair in the corner. She ran back to the bathroom and thrust the chair inside.
"Use this to block the door, and don't you dare come out, no matter what!" she ordered.
"Isabelle—"
"Do it!" she commanded and slammed the door shut.
She waited until she heard the chair being placed against the door before she ran over to the other door. Her hands shook as she fumbled to get the chain into place. 'My mother!' she screamed to Stefan.
'It's you they want, Isabelle! You they're tracking. Your mother has been warned.'
Isabelle bit back a sob as she turned back around. Vicky and Abby were stuck in here with her. 'I have to get out of this room!'
'No!'
'Vicky and Abby are in here!'
'Don't you dare leave that room!'
Isabelle glanced wildly around. They could come in here. People stayed in this room, but they didn't live here. It was no one's home. She left the room and took them away from her sisters, or she stayed and led them right to them. It wasn't a difficult decision to make. She spun back around; her hand trembled as she reached to slip the chain free of its lock. Her hand froze midway there.
'Stefan—'
'Stay in that room!' he commanded.
'Stefan, they're here.'
His roar was so loud she swore it echoed through the room. It took her a moment to realize it wasn't his bellow filling the room, but the shattering of the large plate glass window beside her. Isabelle screamed as a darkness that had nothing to do with the night, rushed in to meet her. She recognized the putrid smell instantly as it swamped her mind.
She ripped the chain free and unlocked the deadbolt as hands grasped at her. Isabelle spun as she lashed out with her claws. She sliced his face open, and blood sprayed his blond hair. She lashed out again, concern for her sisters serving to make her more savage as she caught him in his chest. She would do everything in her power to make sure this monstrosity didn't get anywhere near them.
The door burst open behind her; it slammed into her back and knocked her to the floor. She cried out as her shoulder slammed into the wall and pain pierced down her side. Splintered wood and broken plaster rained down around her as the ruined door crashed to the floor. She scrambled back up as the other one came at her.
"Kill her!" the blond spat.
The redhead came toward her eagerly as his eyes gleamed with bloodlust. Isabelle jumped to her feet as
