Another nail can drive out a Nail...

                                                                         ISABELLA'S P.O. V

My feet follow Angela automatically to her dorm. Angela walks in first, leaving the door wide open. I walk in, closing the door with my feet. Angela sits on the bed, and the look she gives me is the dictionary of pure hatred.

"I went to save your life, and you go back to betraying me?" Without any will, my arms crossed over my chest as I stared with annoyance at her.

"Did you see me doing something with Leopold? He was once again trying to command my life. He locked me in my dorm room, and I was trying to escape."

The glare that was already on her face deepened. This girl is about to throw smoke through her mouth. "What now?"

"School is hazardous right now. Not only do I have to change how things run around here, but I have to deal with vampires that like the way it is and learn how to run a school. Please don't go to class until I do-"

"I don't care about classes. I am here because Leopold is here. I hope you won't mind sharing him now that you miss goody to- shoo."

"No," I say.

Angela throws her hands up in exasperation and is about to chew my ass off, but I don't let her talk. "I am not having anything with Leopold-"

"Last time you said something similar... Well, you know where it ended-"

"Well, last time I was human, and if Leopold would have kept me human, I would probably have left school and kept my word-"

"I don't believe you."

"Honestly, Angela, I don't have the will or energy to assure you right now-"

"You're like me. You're in love with the same guy. The only difference is that whenever you are interested. I am the one with a broken heart."

I take a deep breath, fighting the urge to slap this girl. The thought of hurting her tells me I have some darkness left in my heart.

"A year ago, I thought Leopold and I could have a relationship. It's clear that's not what he or his maker wants, and after what he said to me, well, I am not the type to forgive and forget."

"You know he had to, right?"

"He didn't have to. He could have fought it-"

"Isa, if he fought, you would be dead-"

"I told him I would rather be dead than have him corrupt his heart. He did not care. Besides... I am dating Eon. I won't cheat on him with Leopold."

Angela believes me and relaxes, giving me a smile that resembles her old self. "Well, when you say it like that. I believe you."

There's a smile on my face. "I'm so sorry I tried to kill you. Especially after you went into that cave to save me and gave me blood-"

"You are forgiven. You said no. I offered my blood regardless. Water under the bridge."

"Thank you. Really. I can promise you it won't ever happen again."

She smiles and nods. I had a feeling she would hold me to it. I left the dorm room and started going to the office to fix her papers when I bumped into Eon.

Speaking of the devil.

Unexpectedly, his hands drift to my hip. It settled there, and he pulled me closer. I am against his chest, chiseled to perfection. I put my hands against them, and Eon stepped towards me, pushing me against the wall. One of his hands rests against the wall next to me.

Eon begins to nuzzle my neck with delicate kisses. They are so faint; they are like whispers. Eon's head is angled slightly to the side as his lips come closer to mine. My lips are already parted. Our breaths mingle. Eon stares at my eyes as he closes the gap to my lips, kissing me softly at first, then his arms encircle me and draw me to him to deepen the kiss.

A groan escapes his lips as I feel the soft touch of his tongue against mine. His lips play and annoy mine. Another moan escapes Eon's lips, and I think his hard-on through his jeans. Eon has noticed something different in me, just like Christian did.

"Isabella," he pronounces my name with the Italian accent it deserves, prolonging each letter as if to savor them.

"Eon," I say softly.

He frowns and stares at me. "There was something different in our kiss," he looks at my body calculatingly. "And in your actions. No slap for being a gentleman?"

I smile. "About that. We need to talk-" The hand caressing my stomach stops as Eon flinches at my choice of words. "Is not a breakup talk," I assure him.

I will keep my word to Angela after all. Another nail can drive a nail out.

It is not like Eon is not good in bed. He would spend hours returning me to heaven before we started having rough sex. And just the mere thought of what this vampire can do makes me forget about the paperwork I have to do.

"Can you give me a hint?" Eon asks,

"I owe you an apology-"

Eon doesn't let me finish. "You are back, aren't you? How?" I open my mouth to speak, but he says even faster. "Wait? You still want to be with me?" He asks in disbelief.

"Of course. We need to talk about what happened to me and where we take our relationship... But you know what I did to the school. I NEED to fix it. Can I see you tonight?"

"Your room or mine, love?"

"Mine," I say with a smile.

"Good, I can't wait," Eon says, stepping back and looking down on himself on purpose.

I laugh. I can't help myself. "We do need to talk first," I murmur.

"Where's the rush?"

"Exactly, we can talk, then do more pleasurable things-"

Eon doesn't let me finish. He puts two fingers on my chin, brings me to him, kisses me softly, and then steps back. "Go to work. I'll get everything ready for tonight amore."

I smile at him, loving the Italian nickname. I watch Eon walk away towards his dorm; no doubt he'll be busy getting ready and buying flowers and cards. I do not deserve that boy. I go outside towards the woods to reach my favorite bar but stop.

The memory of what I made my bartender do to me last time I was there makes me turn around towards my made-up bar. I need to apologize and explain to him what I did, but not now. I need a drink first.

Leo is there sitting and drinking blood. I go straight for the vodka and gulp it until half of the bottle is gone. Leo leans against the counter to get closer and gives me one of his rare smiles. A smile I do not return.

"Hey," he says.

I finished the bottle of vodka and then dropped it in the trash can. I grab another one and drink it again without talking to Leopold.

"So... You still mad at me. Huh?"

I put the bottle on the counter and stare at him quickly. "No. I understand you are breaking up the spell Adak put me through... I know the sorcerers. I did a lot to them; it was me or them, and you chose me. And Angela... I did want to kill her on purpose, even after having my conscience... I would add something else to my pile of guilt; you save me from it..."

"Ok, then what's wrong?" Leo whispers the question, and I know he's nervous.

"Everything," I murmur. "Guilt is eating into my heart, making it hard to breathe. I am so tempted to go hide from everything again-"

"Is not healthy. Trust me on that-"

"Trust you?" A chuckle escapes my lips before I can stop it. I grab the bottle of vodka again and gulp from it. "Every time I do. I get hurt."

Leo winced and looked away for a quick second. "I missed the way you used to blush," he murmurs. "It was a guide-"

"A guide for what?" I ask with pure curiosity.

Leo straightens up and walks towards me. I watched his every move, seeing a determination on his face that should make me afraid, but it made me even more curious.

"A guide to knowing when to kiss you."

Oh, fuck!

"Leo..." My voice is barely audible. We are both swimming in dangerous waters. I can't fall this easily to his charms. "What are you playing now?"

"I'm not playing at anything. Honestly." There's sadness in Leo's voice for a quick second, but I still see it. He replaces it with a smirk. "I miss you so much, Isa." Leo puts a hand around my waist and pulls me to him. I let him for now. "I had to tune you out to fight the temptation of coming to see you when I was not supposed to."

A shiver runs down my spine. Yet I'm afraid that's not right. I can't get into it with Leopold.

"Leo," my voice quivers, and I can't disguise it. Leo is the only man I have fallen for in a long time. And I am weak against him. "If... If what you are saying is true. You and I both know. We can't be together when I have my feelings. Maybe... Maybe you should have left me evil so we could fuck-"

"It wasn't you. I did not want to fuck that girl. I had thousands of sluts just like that," he put a hand on my cheek, and I closed my eyes, enjoying his warmth. "Isa," his voice is tender. "That girl wasn't you." Leo stares into my eyes, and I stare right back. "No matter how many times you tell me you liked that state. I know you. That is why I reverse it. You're guilty now. Tell me you didn't like it." Leo put his head on me, and we both closed our eyes. Leo takes a deep breath and steps back. He has decided something. "The girl you want to be is not my Isa."

I know Leo has seen he has me, but I made a stupid promise. A foolish promise I intend to keep. "Leo, I don't want to be with you, not even for a one-night stand." Leo lets go of me and steps back, disconcerted. "You made me feel you didn't want me. And now you want to go back to where we left off? Do you think the words you say to me are easily forgiven? Leo, when you tune me out? I felt it. I felt how you turned your back on me. You do not understand how much that hurt. You have no idea how that almost consumes me and destroys me. I am thankful for the numbness. It helped—that year. I did horrible things, and I need to work on making amends. And in my plans, you are not involved."

He let go of me and stepped back. He seems to analyze my words. "You're right," he whispers.

"Thank You. Please keep your distance... Even if you do love me... We can't be together. Loving someone would get us both hurt." I murmur.

"You're right," he takes a deep breath. "You're right." I frowned at him and started to wonder if he was ok. "You are right. I won't interfere in your life like that. It's not fair to you."

I went to say something, but he stood up and walked away. I sighed and continued to walk to the office to fix everything I had done.