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“Serenity, I was wondering when you would join me.” She smiles and holds out another cup. “Tea?”

“I don’t think so.” I take another step. I look further into the room. There is no other exit, so I move just enough to keep her and the open door in my line of sight.

“You never did know what was good for you.” She shakes her head sadly.

“I think I did fine without you.”

“Really?” Her eyebrows rise. “That’s not how I see it.”

“It’s not a surprise to me that we aren’t on the same page,” I say wryly.

“How’s Ryker? If he died, you wouldn’t be so calm.” She frowns.

I focus on the wrinkle on her forehead to keep the anger from my eyes. “He’s fine.”

“He let you face me by yourself?” she asks in disbelief.

“He likes me when I take the initiative,” I say calmly.

“He’s a vampire. He wasn't worth your time,” she lectures.

“Why would I take your advice on men?” I ask scornfully.

“What happened to Tom was unfortunate. But it’s a good thing he wasn’t successful with the change. I would have hated to have to kill him.” She takes another sip from her cup, not able to hide the smirk on her red lips.

“Did you know what Dad was doing?” I ask.

“Your father isn’t that smart. Of course, I knew. I let him have his fun, but I was ready to step in if it got out of control.”

“That wasn’t out of control?” I ask, astonished.

“He wasn’t having any success. He ended up killing them anyway. That was my goal, so why would I interfere?” she asks, confused.

I stare at her blankly. I have never seen this woman in my life. This is a completely different person. She is an outstanding actress to be able to hide this side of herself.

“Why did you try to shoot me? Are you that cold?”

“I failed to shoot you, but I took out the next best thing,” she says coldly.

“He is alive. You failed.”

“Not necessarily. I don’t see it like that. He may still have complications. But still, it brought you to me. If either of you does die, the other will follow. I understand some things about mates. You can’t live without each other.” She bends forward to set her cup down. As she does, I see the butt of a gun beside her.

“What do you want?” I ask.

“I want your kind and others like you to die.” She smiles.

“Why do you care? Why not just live your life and forget about us?” I cross my arms.

“Why?” she whispers. “Why not live in ignorance? While all of you can do what you want, be what you want, and kill humans whenever you want. You get all the power when the rest of us have to fall in line,” she shouts. She waves her hands wildly. I finally asked the right question to cause her to lose her cool. “What gives you the right to hold such a position? While I’m stuck being a mother to an ungrateful brat and the wife of a boring, weak man. I work in a meaningless job when the rest of you are sleeping on money and valuables. What gives you the right?”

“You have the power to change your life.”

“Right, yes, I’ll just run out and find a young, successful man that wants to take care of an older woman. No, maybe I’ll be the dancer I have always wanted to be,” she says hatefully.

“So, if you can’t have it, no one else can?” I ask.

“Why should you have everything? All you’ve done your whole life is take, take, take. Take my body, take my independence, take my money,” she spits.