But there’s only silence.
A silence that grows more menacing the harder my mark pulses up and down my leg.
He has to be close… he’s probably on my street.
Swallowing back a whimper of despair, I move deeper into the house until I’m up against the wall of the bathroom. Trying my best to put as much space as possible between us.
Phone still gripped in my hand, I give up on Father McCall calling me back. There will be no help from the Order until I can reach him.
He’s my only contact.
Besides Isaac.
Oh God, why didn’t I think of Isaac?
Fingers scrambling to quickly dial Isaac’s number, I fumble with my phone and nearly drop it.
The line rings twice and Isaac answers the second I sense the monster at my door.
“Chloe? What’s wrong?” Isaac’s gruff, sleepy voice fills my ear at the same second a strong jolt of intense need courses through me.
“Oh God,” I moan and sway on my feet.
“Chloe?” Isaac says in alarm, sounding more awake.
“He’s here,” I manage to whisper.
As if he can hear me, there’s a soft knock on my door. “Chloe, my love, I’m here. Invite me in.”
A minute ago, I thought nothing could compel me to invite him in…
But now that he’s right outside, on the other side of the door, I realize I was a fool for thinking that.
How easily I forgot the effect he had on me when we were face to face.
“Are you sure? Are you sure it’s him?” Isaac asks quickly.
“Yes,” I groan, struggling against the overpowering desire to open the door.
The overpowering desire to throw my body at his body.
“Okay,” Isaac says a little breathlessly, like he’s busy moving around, doing something. “I want you to remember your training. Do you remember your training?”
My shadow stalker knocks louder on the door, but his voice is still soft and sweet. “Chloe, my angel, I’m right here. Come to me.”
“I… I don’t know…” I mumble, too distracted by the sudden needy ache between my thighs to really focus on what he’s asking.
I hear Isaac take a deep, calming breath, and wish I could do the same. “Alright, listen to me carefully. I want you to go into the nearest bathroom and turn the faucet on. You can do that, right?”
Becoming impatient, the monster knocks so loud he rattles the doorframe. “Chloe.”
Jolting at the loud bang, my brain finally processes what Isaac asked me.
Eager to put more distance between us, I open the bathroom door and quickly slip inside.
There’s only a fraction of relief with another door between us, but I’ll take a fraction over nothing.
“Chloe, are you there? Are you turning on the faucet?” Isaac asks, and I realize I never answered him.
“Yes,” I pant.
Walking over to the sink, I turn the handle until water barely drips into the bowl.
“Good,” Isaac says.
And I’ve probably spent too much time with Nikolaos tonight because my mind automatically finishes with—girl.
“Now I want you to stay in the bathroom until I get there,” Isaac says gently, as if he’s talking to a child. “Can you do that?”
The monster bangs against the door again and I find myself blurting out, “You’re coming to help me?”
“I’m on my way,” Isaac says, and through the line I hear a car door shutting.
I sob into the phone, “Thank you.”
The line goes quiet for a heartbeat, then Isaac says, “He can’t come in unless you invite him, remember that. Whatever you do, stay inside and don’t invite him in.”
“I won’t,” I say, but I fear I might be lying.
The pull, the tug, to go to the front door is incredibly strong, and I’m not sure I can endure it for hours, much less minutes.
“Swear to me,” Isaac demands. “Swear on your eternal soul you won’t invite him in.”
Isaac’s tone is suddenly so forceful I wonder if he too is trying to compel me. But he’s not a vampire, and even if he was it wouldn’t work.
Shaking that thought away, I let the gravity of what he’s asking sink in then agree.
“I swear,” I say, knowing if I break my word God will punish me.
Isaac lets out a breath in relief. “I’ll be there soon, but I need to hang up and make another call. If anything changes, call me right away.”
Biting back the words begging him to stay on the line with me, I force myself to say, “Okay.”
“I’ll be there soon,” Isaac promises. “Stay safe for me.”
Isaac is on his way right now to help me. He’s the only person in the world willing to help me.
But I can’t help but feel abandoned when he disconnects.
Something big and hard thumps against my front door followed by a squelching noise.
Then his voice is in my head.
Answer the door, Chloe.
I know you can hear me.
Let me in.
Swaying on my feet, I have to grip the side of the sink to stay upright. Fear and temptation warring inside me.