"What did you forget this time, Kathleen? Besides your key?"
Sera unlocked the door and flung it open. She froze, unable to move as she stared at the man before her. The world seemed to tilt briefly before coming back into focus. With a startled cry, she tried to slam the door closed, but he put out his hand and blocked it. "Now, is that any way to treat an old friend?"
Her scream lodged in her constricted throat as Jacob pushed the door open. She was forced back as he pushed his way inside. Stumbling awkwardly, she quickly righted herself as she launched at him. "Get out of here!" she cried.
He shoved her backward and knocked her to the floor. Sera scrambled away and jumped back to her feet as he closed and locked the door. "Just calm down, Sera."
"Get out of here, now!"
"I just came to talk to you," he said calmly as he turned to face her again.
"I have nothing to say to you. Leave."
He walked toward her as she steadily backed away from him. She found it extremely difficult to breathe as she inhaled rapid, short breaths. Jacob was taller than Liam was, and broader through the shoulders and chest. He could, and would, squash her like a bug.
Suddenly, there was nowhere left for her to go as she backed herself into the wall. Panic leapt through her as he continued to hone in on her. She was such an idiot. What was she thinking when she’d left herself with nowhere to go? She stared breathlessly up at him, terror ripping through her as he stopped just inches away. Her legs trembled as his face loomed over hers. His breath against her cheek caused nausea to twist through her stomach as the familiar stench of it filled her nostrils.
He placed his hands against the wall by her head. "I just want to talk to you."
Sera took a trembling breath as she tried to steady herself. She almost closed her eyes and cringed away as he lowered himself to look directly into her eyes, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction. Instead, she forced herself to tilt her chin and defiantly meet his gaze. His brown eyes focused on her. Unwillingly, she looked away as memories, and nausea, shook her. Tears threatened to fall as she swallowed the lump in her throat.
"How you been, Sera?" he inquired.
"Fine," she managed to choke out.
"You look good, but then you always did. Would you like to know how I've been?"
"No."
"Well, I haven't been too good. Some people believed that nasty little lie you told about me. I was kicked off the football team and lost my scholarship to college, thanks to you."
She met his gaze. "It wasn't a lie."
He laughed and took a step closer, his solid chest brushed against hers. A shudder of revulsion ripped through her as he leered down at her, disgustingly close, and amazingly real. Looking at him now, she couldn't recall why she’d thought he was so perfect. He was handsome, in the classic, all American sense, but there was a wealth of depravity in his brown eyes. She didn't understand how she'd never seen it before. It had to have been there, but she'd been so enamored with him she’d refused to acknowledge it.
Now the evil inside him blazed at her. It seeped into her soul, caused her mind to go numb, and her legs to tremble so much she was afraid she would collapse.
"We both know you wanted it."
She wrapped her arms around herself to ward off the chill racking her. He turned away and walked around the room. She frantically searched for the nearest thing to hit him with. "Nice place you got here. Your roommate's kind of a pig though," he remarked.
"I think it's time for you to leave, Jacob."
He stalked back to her. She lurched desperately for the lamp on her desk. Her trembling hands knocked it over as she clumsily grasped at it. "Oh God," she cried in frustration as it tumbled to the floor and broke in half.
He grabbed hold of her arm and spun her around. She screamed as he lifted her up and flung her onto the bed. The force of it knocked the breath out of her, but she somehow managed to find the strength to scramble back. He grabbed her leg and jerked her toward him.
"No!" she screamed as she kicked crazily at him. "Get away from me!"
He pulled her across the bed and climbed on top of her. Sitting on her legs, he grabbed hold of her hands and pinned them above her head. She screamed again, bucking wildly as she tried to rip her hands free. He squeezed her wrists as he shifted both of her wrists into one hand and placed his other hand over her mouth. Tears of frustration rolled down her face as she fought to get free.
Liam stood by Mike as the next group passed them. "There are only two groups left. Then we can go party. Or, at least I can." The wolfman mask covered Mike's face, but Liam knew he was grinning beneath it. "Then again, I'd rather be at your party."
Liam shook his head. "I'm sure you'll find your own."
Mike laughed as he pulled the mask off. "God, this thing is hot. I need a beer."
Liam winced as screams from children echoed through the halls. He was beginning to get a headache from all the high-pitched shrieks. Glancing at his watch, he discovered it was only quarter after nine. He rubbed at his pounding temples. He couldn't wait to end these tours. His throat was sore; he was hungry and tired. He had led ten groups of screaming children and their parents through already. He wanted to get out of here and
