The fabric was lifted from my face. Instinctively I gathered my surroundings. The room was large, and as my eyes scanned over the axes and swords that hung on the walls, absolute horror struck me.

“This is Shax's building,” I gasped.

“Yes,” Isaac said. “The last place you'll ever see.”

I swallowed, hard. Isaac's voice was so pleasant; almost maniacal. His soft tone, coupled with the absence of all humanity in his eyes, was beyond frightening.

“Nina?”

I rotated my neck to its limit to see Ryan sitting in a chair directly behind me, his back to mine. “Are you okay, buddy?” I said.

Blood saturated his hair line just above the temple. “Besides my head throbbing so hard my eyeball feels like it's going to pop out? Peachy.”

He squinted, obviously in pain.

“You didn't have to do that,” I growled at Donovan.

“That's the beauty of it,” Donovan smiled.

“Where's Shax?” I asked.

“Whoa, there, Cupcake. Don't be in such a hurry to die,” Donovan said, scribbling something on a notepad sitting on the desk. “He'll be here soon enough.”

Isaac stood before me, and then crouched just a few inches from my face. “I knew Jared as a child. Did he tell you that? I remember the way he spoke of you. Now that I see you,” he said, gently touching my cheek, “I can't fathom what he sees in you that is so special. You are such a plain little thing.”

“Ow!” I yelped, looking down.

Isaac dug his thumbnail into my wrist, and blood oozed from the half-moon-shaped gouge.

“Leave her alone!” Ryan said, jerking in his seat.

Isaac licked the crimson liquid from my arm. “I thought maybe it was something I couldn't see. Merovingian, and nothing to set you apart from the rest of them. Very disappointing.”

I lowered my chin and glared up at him. “Like you must be to your father. With all of your amazing talents and abilities, and you're a sell out—a sycophant for the other side.”

Isaac reared his hand and let it fly, back-handing me so hard I fell over onto my side, crashing to the floor in the chair I was tied to.

“You son-of-a-bitch!” Ryan screamed, wildly struggling to get free.

“So much for not tolerating violence,” I groaned.

“That was just a warning,” Isaac said, setting me upright. “I have less tolerance for disrespect.” He slowly leaned in, kissing my forehead.

“Let's go,” Donovan snapped. “They'll be here soon.”

Isaac nodded, and then they were gone.

“You okay?” Ryan said, scooting his chair until I was in his line of sight.

“I'm not going to lie. That hurt.”

Ryan leaned in, inspecting the bump quickly rising above my eyebrow. “Jared's going to be pissed.”

“I'm sure he already is.”

“They should be here by now. Something's wrong. Jared said if they weren't here within a few minutes, that I should get you out of here.”