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He started toward the school, unsure of why he chose it for his destination. Something about being surrounded where no one knew him appealed to him. Dorian had haunted the campus and surrounding area on and off - occupying a park bench here and there as the students busily came to and fro from their classes.

He paused at the bench he'd taken to sitting on at midday when he came through this courtyard. It was uncharacteristic for him to abide by such a habit - but at times the human in him pulled so much that he didn't understand why he did things. Today though was different, he came to this bench intent on someone...

Slipping her phone in her back pocket she headed out of the building towards the small café between classes for her java fix. Looking up at the barista she put in her order as usual, a venti cinnamon dolce with three pumps of raspberry and topped with whipped cream.

"See you tomorrow Bel."

She grinned at Tad who worked the morning shift and had taken to pulling her order up the moment she walked through the door, "You know it, gotta have my fix."

Cutting through the grotto courtyard she hoped she could give herself a few extra minutes to get to Ungracious' class. Bella reached in her bag for her phone. Stopping mid stride she set her coffee down in front of her as she set her bag down to look through it.

He had first spotted the girl on his weekly walk which had turned his habit into a more frequent diversion in hopes of seeing her again. He couldn't explain it but there was something strangely magnetic about the girl. She seemed delightfully oblivious to the world around her and held such a carefree air to her that he longed to touch her and see if she was real herself. There was an ethereally, fae quality to her and he fully expected her to poof into a bright spirit as much as anything else.

He looked hungrily at her shapely legs, the pert, round derriere as it swayed and moved with her hips. His mouth practically watered, the wolf in him growled at him to take her - but he knew better. In the human world a lot of trouble would ensue from such actions. He tore his gaze away from her, but out of the corner of his eye he still saw her.

She wrestled with her bag, she couldn't believe this - she always had so much going on it made her absent-mindedness worse. Finally, tired of bending over and only now acutely aware that she was being watched, she snatched up her bag and carried it over to a park bench where she could sit and rummage for her phone. She sighed as she hoped she hadn't left it in her room. It was four blocks away and she had to get to class soon.

Dorian suddenly became uncomfortable as she sat next to him suddenly, she seemed to not notice anything around her as she fervently searched through her bag for something. He tried to think of something to say to her, she was right there, so close. He could smell her scent as it permeated his nostrils. It was fresh and tart, a citrusy clean smell, and it drove him wild to taste her. "Did you lose something?" he instantly regretted speaking for she gave him such an odd stare he was sure he should have gotten up and walked away, quickly. And though he frequently stuck his foot in his mouth as the humans said, it wasn't like him to back away from anything, though he knew when to be cautious. A hard life had taught him to choose his battles carefully, especially since he was hunted. It was always in his best interest to stay as low key and hidden as possible.

"Huh?" she said looking up, not quite registering that he'd been talking to her. Bella wasn't the type to notice guys like him. She gave him a thorough once over, studying him, reading him. How she had sat next to an Adonis and not noticed it she wasn't sure. Normally she didn't go for extremely attractive males, but there was something dark and mysterious about him. And she could sense that he was wounded, and an old soul for what she could tell. She cleared her throat, "Sorry, that was rude of me," she extended her hand, which he started to stare at, before he shook it, "I am, I mean I did, well maybe, I'm not sure." She returned to rummaging through her bag. Idly she spoke again, "You'd think that with me needing it so damned much I'd keep better track of it."

"What?" this girl was something else, not only did she invade his senses physically, she had him riled mentally. There was something oddly attractive about her quirkiness, the kind that made you crack a smile at her without meaning to.

She looked up to notice his slightly lop-sided grin, "O jeez, not you too," she let out a half-hearted snort.

"What?" He said again, somewhat indignantly.

She returned his gaze as she resignedly gave up looking for her phone, she cracked a small smile. "It's nothing, really, seems I just," she paused, "I seem to be very amusing to those around me. Whether I like it or not." He didn't catch her meaning, and she read it on his features, so she continued, "Well my friends for instance. They're used to my apparent absent-minded behavior and laugh about it all the time. I should expect no less I suppose since it is rather laughable, but you, don't know me from a hole in the wall and even still you're laughing at me." She looked down at her watch as it started to beep at her.

He started to say something, but she got up cutting him off. "Anyway, nice entertaining you - I'm late for class." She slung her bag somewhat clumsily over her shoulder and dashed off down the sidewalk toward he presumed the nearest brick building. He shook his head, so that was conversation with a human female, he wondered if they were all so odd. His ears perked as he heard a strange sing-song jingling to his left where she'd been sitting. He looked down and saw a cell phone, buzzing and vibrating, as it played Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" . Seems she'd lost it after all. Picking it up, he glanced at the caller id, "Pirate Queen" it read. Par for the course, everything about this girl seemed to be "odd".

He slipped her phone in the pocket of his charcoal gray duster and slipping his sunglasses from his head to his eyes he headed off after her. Luckily he was able to catch her scent, for the life of him he'd not noted where she'd dashed off to. He was all too aware of the arch stares the women he passed gave him. So much for being low key he growled to himself. He should have just left her phone there, but he'd felt compelled to see her again and knew this was a plausible reason to do so. He stopped walking as he neared a more sparsely populated area. He noted the quietness of the hallway and the few people sitting here or there, waiting. Continuing to follow her scent, more slowly now since he didn't have to rush past anyone, he followed it to the last door on the left. He read the sign to the left of the door, "Prof. Albert Degraci". Perking his ears up he heard a male voice speaking, "The proliferance of the werewolf in popular culture can be traced in most of its references to Eastern Europe, particularly in Greece. Now, though..." He backed away from the door as a male came skidding down the hall, disheveled, towards the door.

"Shit! Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit." He cursed, "Has he been talking long?" The boy looked to him seeking answers. Instantly uncomfortable Dorian shook his head. He reached out for the door, trembling and opened it.

The voice inside paused, noting the opening of the door, "Ah, Mr. Connor, just in time..."

Even though Dorian couldn't see the man, he could hear the faint malice in his voice. He'd feel sorry for the kid but it wasn't his business to be involved with any human, much less their emotions. Taking a seat on the bench across from the door he sat awaiting the end of it. He didn't realize he was asleep until he heard the familiar sound of her voice, "Stalking me now huh? Usually it takes meeting me twice to do that." She laughed to herself as he gave her a quizzical look. These humans and their habits, particularly hers. "I see I've done it again, dumbfounded the poor Adonis. Though I suppose looking as you do you don't need to think much."

He wasn't sure whether he should be complimented or offended. "I just came here to-,"

She cut him off, "Hold that thought for...say another 45 minutes, Ungracious in there is a stickler when it comes to his lectures and he's already got his dander up about Kevin. You'll be here after, or have you got class?" She'd assumed he was a student there, he felt a slight warmth before he shook his head. "Okay, good." She ducked quickly back into the room.

Forty-five minutes later the door burst open freeing a cacophony of conversations, rustlings of paper, and moving of chairs. "I swear, he must be one of them, the way he talks." He heard a girl say to another one as her friend snickered.

He caught her scent a moment before she called to him, "Hey Adonis, over here." She gestured from the left of the door, diagonal from him. He went over to her.

"You know," he said quietly, "I have a name."

She laughed, "That makes two of us." She stopped as she caught herself, "Ugh, there I go again. Sorry about that - I have a bit of a biting tongue when it comes to retorts." She extended her hand again, "Bella, and you are?"

Ready to devour you, he caught himself just in time to not let the words tumble from his lips, "Dorian."

"Well quite pleasant to meet you - again. So you were telling me why you followed me?" she grinned.

"O, yea, your phone." He fished in his pocket for it and handed it to her.

Her face lit up and compulsively she jumped towards him, hugging him about the neck. He stiffened and growled low in his throat. "Oy," she exclaimed, "I guess I'll never learn. Sorry again about that. Body space is a bit of a foreign concept to me." She said, backing off. Instantly he missed her closeness. Though such actions were unheard of to the wolf and jackal in him, his human side craved the closeness many of them shared. "Seriously though, you are a life saver. On the bench I suppose?" He nodded. "Heh, not a big talker are you?" She cocked her head at him and laughed again. "Just as well, I rarely let a person get a word in edgewise."

"So, you want to grab a coffee? I'm pretty much done for the day, unless you've somewhere to be." He shook his head. "Alright, let's away!" She started to lead the way and he paused to grab her bag she'd left sitting by where she'd been previously standing. Seemingly oblivious to the throng about her she moved fluidly through it. Watching her walk his mouth watered, she was delectable, and he wondered if she'd taste as good as she looked. He had to stop these thoughts, they'd only lead to trouble and he was trying to stay out of it this time. He moved with a few long strides and caught up with her, hoping that walking beside her would keep him from watching her. It didn't, for now instead of her assailing his visual sense, he could smell her, feel her closeness.

She hummed a little tune to herself, rummaging through the stacks of books and papers on her desk. She was forever misplacing things, much to the butt of her friends' jokes. "Maybe I should invest in a personal assistant." She chuckled to herself before she cocked her head to the side. She had this weird feeling like she was being watched. Nonchalantly as possible she turned towards the window behind her, nothing appeared out there, but it was almost pitch black with only the streetlights to illuminate the street lined with cars.

He'd only just ducked out of sight before she'd turned around to gaze out the window. His heart pounded every time he gazed at her, it wasn't natural and he didn't know what he was doing. Since he'd returned her phone, since he'd seen her again her scent was branded on him. Like a cloud that clung to him, he could smell her constantly. He was desperate to talk to her, and thoughts of running his hands down her sides to her silken thighs haunted him. He growled low in his throat. As silently as possible he snuck away from her window and flashed himself down to the street. He headed towards 688 Ursulines...Sanctuary.

"So Lena, what are you guys doing tonight?"

"Wellll since it's our anniversary Xander and I are going out to Sanctuary."

"Oh, that's cool."

Her friend noted the sound in her tone, "You want to come with."

She rolled her eyes, she hated to be the third wheel, "No it's fine, it's you guys' day."

"Come on Bel, when's the last time you were out?"

She cringed as she remembered, she'd gotten all dolled up to go see Shawn play at a local goth haunt only to have him dump her at the end of their set. She sighed, "That night." she said.

"Shoot girl, I can't believe lil miss goth-a-lot has been stuck indoors in her cave since because of that."

Bella laughed slightly, her friend always had a way of making things sound so light, but inside she still hurt over it. She'd felt she had finally found someone worthwhile and he'd turned out to be just another smug self-absorbed prick. That's what she got for dating a musician she supposed. All she'd been to him was just another groupie.

Her friends urgings brought her out of her memories, "Alright, fine."

"So you gonna get gothed up with me?"

She scoffed, "Don't I always?" She shook her head despite the fact that she was alone. Helena was the only one who she knew was a "dark" as she was.

"Alright we'll swing by a little after eight? You'll be ready and raring for a good time?"

"Yes mistress." She heard her friend laugh as she hung up the phone.

Immediately she wanted to call her back and cancel. She'd holed herself up in her house alright. She looked around, it looked ever darker than usual. She'd torn the posters of her ex boyfriend's band off the wall the night she'd come home after the show. She'd walked eight blocks in the cold because he was too busy hanging with his roadies to give her a lift home. Going to her closet she caught a whiff of a masculine scent, sandalwood...Dorian. She sighed to herself, there was something about him that just had her off in la la land and not like usual. He was wild, alluring, and a little dangerous she sensed. There was an unnatural pull between them. There was also nothing fake about him. She looked to her wall where the poster had been, and she realized Shawn had been nothing but fake. "Why do I do this to myself?"

Her phone began to ring, it was Helena, "Are you ready yet?"

"Huh?"

"Yea I thought you wouldn't be, stop daydreaming and jump in the shower already, I don't want mopey goth girl all over my back seat."

"Thanks Hel, you're so kind."

"Hey, I'm inviting you out to ogle some man candy, now hop to it woman."

"Alright, I'm going, I'm going. You hear me, I'm walking, I'll see you in thirty." She hung up the phone again, dropping it on the dresser she went back to her closet to pull something to wear. Man candy huh, well she should dress the part. She fished out her favorite pair of New Rocks from the closet, and a delicious little short body suit she had. "And now the coup de grace!" she grabbed her spiked collar and a pair of fence nets.

She was just finishing up her eye make up when she heard the sharp three tapped staccato Helena always knocked on her door with. She fluffed the back of her hair which she'd teased up into a wild mane once more before she grabbed her coat and opened the door. Helena greeted her, "Ah my darling, wonderful wonderful - now to feast our eyes!"

Xander cleared his throat behind her, she looked back over her shoulder towards him, "You know I only ever feast on you shug."

Bella shook her head and the couple, "You know Hel, if I hadn't gotten to know you over this last year I'd think something possessed you."

"O it did, and his name is Xander."

She faked hacking, "Okay, enough, or I'll force you two to neck outside."

Her friend shot her a look and hooking her arm escorted her down the hall. Xander grabbed the door and shut it, he reached through it, making sure Bella wasn't looking, and turned the lock from the other side of the door.

Bringing up the rear, he skirted around them to open the door for them. Bella scooted into the back seat of the black Shelby. Clicking the seat in front of her, Helena climbed in. Bella still didn't understand what Xander did that he could dress as he did and afford this kind of car. She was sure it was vintage, and yet as the engine roared to life it sounded in pristine condition.

They sped through the traffic at a rate that would have made a lesser person squeamish, Helena liked 'em dangerous alright. But she hadn't much room to talk since she had similar taste in men and it was a running bet which one of them was worse. Xander parked his car expertly in a way that she was sure defied the laws of physics, and rounded the hood to let them out again. She left her coat in the car and looked across the street to the gathering of motorcycles outside the bar. Looking up she saw the sign picturing a lone motorcycle on a hill in front of the full moon. She'd walked by the place a couple of times, but she wasn't much for biker bars. Clicking the alarm on his car, Xander hooked arms with Helena and led the way across the street. His long coat fluttering behind him as he walked. Despite his eccentricity the man did pull it off, she smiled happily after the couple. She'd met Helena when she'd first moved to town, she'd been jaded and somber. But since she and Xander had gotten together she'd been happy. "You comin' or are you just gonna stand there?" She ran to catch up with her friend.

The blonde bouncer at the door gave Xander a friendly scowl. "Two, you're surely not going to keep them both to yourself."

"This one's mine bear." he said pulling Helena closer.

"And she's mine Dev. Unless you wanna wrestle for her."

The man laughed, "I would gladly take you up on that, but I don't think the old man would appreciate it." He flashed her a wicked grin.

Bella returned him an arch stare, then wrinkled her nose, "That's fine, I'd place my money on her anyhow. Sides I'm not really a fan of blondes."

He gave another hearty laugh, "You might not sing that tune after a roll little girl."

Helena chided him, "Dev you're terrible."

"Aye, and so good at it." He waved them in.

Bella shook her head. Helena knew some strange ones, and despite being blonde she did have to admit he was attractive. As were most of the men her friend seemed to know personally.

"Alright hon, there's a bar, pool tables, a juke box - just," and she pulled her a bit closer, "no 'Sweet Home Alabama'." Bella looked at her strangely.

"Since when-" she started.

"I know, I'm just sayin, the crowd in here doesn't generally like it, save for a special one. So he gets dibs."

"Have no fear, I'm much more a heavy industrial type."

Helena continued pointing out random things to her, but Bella had stopped listening as she started scanning the room. There was a random gathering of tourists and locals. Bikers, Goths, and more then the places fair share of devilishly handsome guys. She leaned in towards her friend, "Uhm, are you sure this isn't a gay bar?"

Xander let out a hearty laugh, "Let Dev hear you say that one."

Helena gave her a strange look, "Hey, when's the last time you saw a concentration of so much attractive male flesh?"

She threw her hands up, "Alright you have a point, but trust me that is not something you need to be concerned with here. We're going to grab something to eat, but you go mingle, hit on someone. It'll make you feel better." With that the couple grabbed an open table and sat.

Bella turned about, yea, this place was chockfull to the brim with hot gods. Though about half of them had this eerily blonde hair, they reminded her of lil newbie Goths. She headed over to the bar and ordered a vodka sour from someone who looked surprisingly like the guy at the door. She turned her head to make sure he was still there. She grabbed her drink and headed over to the pool tables. A scruffy looking brunette was playing with one of the bar staff. An even scruffier blonde who had a small monkey on his shoulder. The blonde made his last shot, ending the game, and glanced to her then his opponent. "Geez Wren, you could have made it a little easier on me." Wren snorted and handed him the pool cue as he walked off towards the bar area.

The brunette turned and saw her, "Ah cher, care to play?"

She shrugged, "Sure, I'm not any good though."

He chuckled lightly, "Well I suppose you'll let me win this one then?" He handed the triangle, "Ladies choice."

_ Nice_ she thought. Well at least she was getting hit on and tacky dresser though he might be, his smugness was amusing. Hel was right, she felt a bit better.

Dorian cautiously approached the door. Though he wasn't a fan of crowds, Sanctuary was one of the few Were friendly places he could stand. Despite the gruffness of the bear clan they were all good folks, so long as you left the female cub alone. As he neared the bear at the door sniffed, "Jackal. Don't see too many of you around."

"Just as well bear." There was a grudging note of respect in the bear's tone. For ages his kind had been dwindling, which is part of what made him even more unique. Neither true wolf or jackal he held the scent of both. Unlike most of his brethren though, he chose to roam alone, for if ever a pack found out what he was he'd be exterminated.

The bar was noisy as usual, filled with the sound of music, conversation and the general sounds that accompanied such places. He made a bee line to the bar, "Jackal." The bartender greeted him as the bouncer had.

"Whiskey, and hold the human hair." the bear nodded. The phrase was indicative of the particular kind of alcohol that was served only to the Were-Hunters that came in the bar. Since their constitutions were so much stronger than a human's they could take more alcohol. The bear slid his drink down to him where he idly sipped it.

Suddenly he caught a whiff of a familiar citrus scent. Great, now he was smelling things. He growled to himself and turned from the bar when he caught sight of her. He almost dropped his drink he couldn't believe his eyes. But he felt instantly territorial as he saw the brunette standing close to her joking as she laughed. "Don't kill him Jackal, he works with the Hunters and Acheron would be mighty pissed if you did."

His ears perked slightly as he heard the ancient Atlantean's name. They'd only crossed paths once or twice, but he had a healthy respect for him. That aside he still couldn't quell the desire go and claim Bella as his own. He got up, listening to the bear laugh behind him, and headed over to the pair. He slowed and acted nonchalant as he drew nearer. "Mind if I play a round or two with the winner?"

She heard the deep, exotic timber of the familiar voice that had haunted her fantasies over the last few days. Turning towards him, she saw a slightest twinkle in his green eyes. She handed him her cue, "Be my guest he's kicking my ass."

Nick piped up, "O no cher, don't be so modest. Besides I'd love to watch you run game on him." Dorian flashed him a darkened look, "Kidding. But really, I've got to er, go."

Bella passed him a look, "Alright that's fine, I'll stay in the dark over here."

Dorian took the cue from Nick who sauntered off towards the bar and a lovely, blonde petite woman.

She looked back at Dorian, "So you gonna let me win?"

"Should I?" he flashed her a devilish grin.

"I'm not a sore loser, but as I said to Nick, I'm a terrible shot."

He smirked, "I'll call you on that, you're too shrewd to be but so bad."

She mocked surprise, "Moi, a shark. Never!"

"We'll see. Raise the stakes, loser buys?"

"O, so you want to play it that way? You're on." She held out her hand and they shook on it.

Nick hugged his mother as he went to leave, he saw Xander Drake and his woman Helena seated at a table. He stopped over, "Xander, Helena. I take it Bella is a friend of yours?"

Helena nodded.

"Does she?"

She shook her head.

"Well, there's a Jackal over there staking her out." Helena raised her eyebrow, Jackals weren't too common and not terribly trusted either.

"Thanks for the heads up, we'll make sure he keeps his paws to himself." Xander said.

Nick nodded and headed off.

Helena looked in the direction of her friend, noting the tall dark hair man she was talking to, "I'm not sensing anything from him dear." she said to him.

"Still, they do have a reputation."

"And so do sailors," she punched him playfully in the arm.

"Well you are a Siren after all...who could resist."

She laughed, "Smooth save, but I think the attention will do her some good. She's been holed up in her apartment for the last week."

He nodded.

"Best two out of three." she said pleadingly at him.

"Ready to get mopped with the floor again?"

She rolled her eyes at him, "I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment. Besides, I'll never concede defeat."

"Perhaps we should up the stakes further?"

She eyed him at that, instantly wary of his proposition. "Lunch?"

"Dinner."

She let out a slow, low whistle, "Well you do drive a hard bargain. But, since I'm having my ass so royally handed to me, a twist."

He arched a brow at her, she was quick witted and quirky.

"As it stands I will accept my utter defeat on the following terms. Loser buys tonight, winner dinner?"

He couldn't help but grin a bit, he proffered his hand, "Deal."

She chuckled to herself. She had given him a fair run for his money, so to speak, on their last game. It had even looked as though she would win, until she purposely missed several easy shots and set him up. "Dare I say you let me win?"

She feigned earnestness, "I would never." But she passed him a wicked grin. "Well," she yawned, "it's been a pleasure nearly beating you - but I've class in the morning. Good sport, for a guy." She handed him the cue and sauntered off towards her friends.

"By the gods, look Xander, she's beaming!" She laughed as her friend chided her.

"I'm not dead yet," she saw Helena gazed pointedly at Xander for a moment before she looked back at her chuckling again.

"Well you could have fooled me, glad to have my friend back though." She looked in Dorian's direction, "I see you even scored the company of a hottie."

She looked back at Dorian who was now idly playing with one of the bar staff. "O Adonis, yea I met him at class today."

Her friend raised an eyebrow at her, "Really, which class?"

"Ungracious," she said, sipping her drink.

Her friend made a wide O with her mouth, "And what class is he teaching this semester?"

"Legends and myths of the Were-wolf and other half humans." she said drolly.

Helena and Xander exchanged a look Bella completely missed. "So he just show up in class today?"

"Huh." Bella returned her attention from Dorian to her friend, "O, well no actually I didn't meet him in class, so much as on my way there."

Her friend leaned in, "Well you be careful hon, I know it's been awhile-"

"It's fine mom, I'll be okay. He's got a cute butt is all."

Helena pursed her lips, she knew her friend better than that. Bella had never really been one to pay attention to looks and the fact that this one had her attention as well as being preternatural she felt instantly protective over her.

Dorian felt the girl's eyes on him. He pretended nonchalance but he couldn't help but slip glances her way whenever she wasn't looking at him. "You mind your manners, she knows the Dark-Hunters." He looked over his right to see Aimee Peltier gesturing to Bella and the couple she sat with.

He sniffed defensively, "I don't need you to tell me who to run with bear."

She briefly passed him a caustic look, "Exactly, and you should know Jackal, that when it comes down to it we protect our own. And that includes her."

He returned her with a scathing stare, but he knew she was right. He was without clan and hunted. Not for a very good reason mind you, but still his life was tense enough without even considering a one night stand. And yet, there was something about her that kept his attention - that he couldn't ignore. No he didn't want a one night stand with this girl. He wanted to hold and possess her.

***

He growled fiercely, tossing feverishly about. She watched him closely. In all the times she'd been around him she hadn't paid too much attention to his aura. But as he lie there unconscious, in the fit of some seeming nightmare she saw how it sizzled and buzzed. It seemed almost otherworldly. She attempted to inch closer, to see if he was okay.

He heard her stirring, and smelled her scent a moment later. Good, he thought, they hadn't hurt her. And he found himself thanking his mother for the caution she'd instilled in him as a pup. Had he tried to break free of his bonds with his powers he'd have exposed himself and the Were community to the girl. It was bad enough that he was hunted for something he didn't do without giving them a real reason to execute him.

He grew still and she could feel his eyes on her, she swallowed, her throat dry from their confinement. "You okay?" she whispered quietly.

He looked towards his ankle chained to the cell floor and couldn't help but laugh to himself, "Yea, you?"

She furrowed her brow cutely, "What's so funny?"

In the dim light she saw him shrug, "It's just not surprising that I'm here and yet your presence is rather laughable." She gave him a look, there he went sticking his foot in his mouth again, "I mean, I know why I'm here - but why would they take you too is beyond me."

She nodded, "Me following you probably didn't help."

He gave her a look. Remembering back to the night before he realized he had noticed a lingering scent of her. At the time he'd merely thought he was smelling the residuals of her scent, "Damn." he cursed.

"What?"

He looked at her, debating on how much he should tell her. Generally humans became skittish when they didn't know what was going on, and yet there she was before him strangely calm. She didn't seem the least bit perturbed or scared about being locked up with him. Even his own kind didn't like being around him for long.