"You wanted the truth." A jolt of anger made his voice harsh. "I'm giving it all to you Sera. You were a challenge simply because I had to know more about you, not because I just wanted you in my bed like Michelle..."
"This is just getting better," she muttered.
"Don't do that!" he retorted. Her hands fisted as her chin jutted out but she didn't say anything more. "All I wanted from Michelle was a one night stand. I wanted more from you, otherwise I would have gone to any of the many willing girls around here after the first night we met, but I didn't. You were not, and are not, just a stupid conquest, you never have been. That first night, I saw what Mike had been talking about. I saw the vulnerability in you, the fear, and I knew that I shouldn't become involved with you, that I should stay away. You had been hurt, and I could do nothing but bring you more hurt."
"Then why didn't you leave me alone?" she asked.
"I don't know!" His frustration had come to a boiling point. She jumped in surprise, and then winced. Liam took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. She was scared of him already; he didn't want to frighten her anymore, especially when he hadn't even told her the worst part yet. "I don't know," he repeated. "You are unlike anyone I have ever met, and I wanted to know all about you. The more I learned about you, the more I loved you. I think I've loved you since that first night. No matter what happens, from here on out, I will always love you, and I will protect you from anyone that tries to injure you. Even if you never speak to me again, I will still protect you."
She stared at him, crying silently as her hands shook in her lap. He walked over to the window and stared out the blinds as he gathered his strength before turning to face her again. "If you decide to leave I won't blame you, but no matter what Sera you cannot tell anyone what I am going to tell you. If you do, I don't know if I'll be able to protect you. I don't think I would be able to stop them from coming after you. They would kill me in order to get to you. Do you understand me?"
"I don't want anything to happen to you," she whispered tremulously.
"Are you worried about me?" he asked incredulously.
"Yes."
He closed his eyes and turned back to the window. Anguish ripped through his body, and a love greater than he had ever thought he could experience engulfed him. "You know," he said. "I never thought that I could love anyone like I love you. I never thought that I would meet a person like you. I didn't think they existed."
"Liam..."
"No one is going to harm me Sera. You just need to promise me that you won't tell anyone, please."
"I won't tell anyone anything that you don't want me too."
He felt as if his skin was being ripped away and his soul was being bared as he turned back to her. "I'm a vampire."
The words hung heavy in the air as she stared at him. Then, she began to laugh. Hitching in a deep breath, she managed to stifle her laughter as she stood. Her eyes blazed with fury, and her jaw was clenched as she turned to him. "You know, there is something wrong with you. I've had it, if you don't want to tell me the truth, then don't. But don't pull this bull with me. I'm going to the police!"
"Sera..."
"No!" she shouted. "You have done nothing but lie to me. I've had it. I've had it with you! You've won whatever game you were playing. You've won! You can run around and tell everyone you made a fool of me, I don't care!" She turned and stormed toward the door. "You rotten bastard!"
He moved swiftly, and with deadly speed. He was ahead of her before her hand stretched for the knob. She froze, unable to believe that he had moved that fast. Suddenly, her mind flashed back to the red in his eyes, and the killing rage that had radiated from him last night. The lack of blood on Jacob, on her sheets. For a moment, she wanted to believe him. For a moment, she actually did.
Then her mind snapped back into place, back into reality. There was no such thing as vampires. They did not exist. He had done nothing but lie to her from the beginning. She couldn't believe this insanity. It was impossible. Lifting her chin, she glared at him, her eyes full of a ferocity that rocked him.
"You can't go to the police. I'm not lying," he said coldly.
"Get out of my way!" she spat as her hands clenched at her sides.
He stared at her as he took a step closer. "Sera..."
She took a couple of steps back. Her annoyance vanished as despair washed over her. She'd had too much. She simply couldn't take anymore. "Stop, please," she begged. "Just stop it. I can't take this anymore. Do you have any idea how much you've hurt me? All I wanted was the truth. Even though you killed him, I didn't care! I would have helped you. I would have done anything for you! Just leave me alone, let me go."
She stood with her head in her hands as her shoulders shook with her sobs. He grabbed hold of her hands and forced them away from her face. "I'm not lying to you," he growled.
She lifted her eyes, and froze. His eyes were a scarlet shade of red. His beautiful face was twisted into something unrecognizable, something unreal, and horrifying. His long, inhuman teeth hung over his bottom lip. They looked deadlier and sharper than any lion's teeth.
Her eyes widened, her mouth dropped open, and then, she screamed. He slammed his hand over her mouth, silencing her before she could make much of a sound. Liam wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her flush against his chest. She clawed at his hand and kicked backward with such frenzy that he almost lost his hold on her.
Tightening his grip, he lifted her off of the floor. Her body shook and heaved as she dug into his skin. "Sera stop it," he grated in her ear. "Stop."
She continued to scream against his hand as her chest heaved with her rough inhalations. He hissed as her teeth sank into his palm. "Damn it!"
He dropped her onto the bed. She bounced back up and scrambled to get away. He grabbed hold of her ankle and pulled her back as she cried out. "No!"
He clamped his hand over her mouth again. Her small fists beat impotently against his chest as he straddled her. Seizing hold of her wrists, he clamped them firmly together against her stomach. Her muffled cries became softer as tears spilled down her face.
