Aria's POV

I had to put a stop to this. Gabriel had to know the truth, even if it means the hard way. I thought to myself. As I got up from the white tile of the shower, I reached around the outside of the shower to grab a towel to dry myself off. It was thick and absorbent, picking up the water from my skin quickly. As I towel dried my hair vigorously, I was unable to get his testing from my mind. Wrapping the towel around my body, I stepped from the shower and looked at myself in the mirror. I gotta stay submissive until Gabriel shows a sign that he knows I'm faking it. The words kept running through my mind like a mantra of sorts. Opening up the bathroom door, I moved into the bedroom where I noticed a simple dark teal colored day dress with black lace sleeves, was laying out on the bed for me. Gabriel wasn't present.

Quickly, I took up the dress and got dressed in the bathroom. When I came back out, I stood before the wall of mirrors, the dress was simple but elegant on me.

"You look quite stunning," Gabriel said where he leaned against the door frame, for once, not wearing his sunglasses. His eyes were a deep warm brown. "But I thought I said for you to wait for me on the bed? I said nothing about putting the dress on..." He actually smiled at me with his canines showing a little.

"I saw the dress and assumed you placed it there for me. So of course, I would want to see how it looked before getting on the bed. I apologize. I should not have assumed anything." I cast my eyes downward to let him think that I was sorry, hoping he'd drop the subject. Slowly, I climbed up on the bed and sat in the middle still not making eye contact on purpose.

Casually he walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, then turned to face me. "There is only one thing that I require from you right now Aria, and it is not sex." He reached out and pulled me closer to him by the back of my neck. His other hand gently trailing against my skin as he moved back the pieces of my long wet hair aside, while his eyes carefully gauged my responses to him. I could feel his hot breath on my cheek as he whispered in my ear. "We are not that much different, you and I." That seductive deep purr was wrapping around me again.

My eyes closed as I fought the sensations that were rising in me. When his lips touched my neck, my hands shot out to his shoulders to steady myself. "Please don't do this to me, Gabriel?"

His voice still carried the deep hypnotic tones as he answered while licking the skin of my neck. "Don't what?" I felt little pain as his fangs sank into my skin, gasping as he grabbed hold of my body tightly and lowered me to the bed. He was forcing pleasure into my human mind, and I felt as if I were betraying Richard.

"Get off of me Gabriel, you have had enough." My words came out softly as I struggled within, not to give in to him. When suddenly he broke the connection to my mind, as he raised his head and looked at me in amazement. "I saw him turn you... I saw it. What are you now? You taste...like no other. A pint of your blood would sell for millions! Please Aria, tell me?"

Looking off to the side, feeling suddenly sad, I replied, "I am me. A singularity, a black hole, and more. This body was transformed into a type of Immortal with no vampiric qualities except fangs, which I will remove from the DNA sequence soon enough." I watched as his warm brown eyes widened in shock, and what seemed like a pleasant surprise.

"Do you have any idea how incredible you are? So many of us seek after power, yet here you are. A force of nature. The embodiment of power." He whispered as he gently he caressed my cheek with his warm palm.

Raising my eyes to his, I removed his hand from my neck. My words were spoken softly, meant to soothe any rising pain. "Then you also realize that I cannot be controlled. Perhaps temporarily, but never completely. I am not for you Gabriel." I now removed his other hand from my cheek. "However, I can be the best ally one could ever hope to have. Will you join me as such?" Raising my hand before him, I awaited his response.

Taking my hand in his, he looked down as his fingers knit with mine. "There is a danger in working with one such as me." His eyes trailed back up to my features as I rose into a sitting position. "You have been gone from this world for quite some time, I'd say. So your knowledge of its political workings must be quite limited to the memories of the humans you've collected."

Nodding, I smiled at his understanding of how I process the gained information I receive. "Yes, although I could always take the rest of your memories too Gabriel. If for any other reason, then to be the strongest informed ally that you have. Our minds would then work on situations together but from our unique perspectives." He let go of my hand but scooted a bit closer to me on the bed. I could almost feel the warmth radiating from him.

"Over ten thousand years worth of active memories? I doubt even you could handle all of that, Aria." His fingertips trailed over my shoulder but not in a seductive way. "Though it is an interesting idea to try. However, it would leave me bare and void of secrets to you. You'd know them all. And that my dear is unacceptable."

Sighing heavily, as if I were bored and done with him, I got off the bed and walked over to the French doors. Standing there, I gazed out beyond the filmy curtains. "You also realize, I could take the rest of your memories by force, then. Well isn't this a conundrum? A partner of equal strength of mind, or an ally that is not really an ally. You have a decision to make Gabriel. Perhaps it is time for the woman to be on top?"

Growling, he was behind me in a flash, with an arm around my waist and his fingers in my hair, yanking my head to the side as his fangs scraped along the delicate skin of my neck. "You are pushing me Aria, and I don't appreciate it. Had this been another day, I'd have torn your throat out!"

Laughter bubbled up in me, I couldn't help it. "Yeah, keep trying to dominate me, Gabriel, it won't work. Tear my throat out and my molecules will just rebuild the skin. It is useless tactics." With another growl, he pushed me away his breath coming hard like he'd just run a marathon.

"Damn you, Aria! Fine then!" He looked at the ground like he was defeated. "See if you can handle the rest of my memories. All the history, love, hate, pain, death, and blood! Take it all if you think your mind can wrap around it!"

I was about to shift my molecules when something stopped me. I could feel him, the other entity nearby again, the other one like me. It wasn't safe here! "Gabriel, run!" I yelled at him in clear distress. The gravity pull was getting stronger while the glass from the French doors shattered behind me. Slivers of glass had embedded themselves in my skin as I had fallen flat onto the carpet. Looking up, I saw that Gabriel had left. Turning my head, was the molecular form of a man with his hand outstretched to me.