Ezra’s place isn't too far from campus, so I decide to walk. The further I get the more the tingling in my spine eases and I’m able to relax. His apartment is on the first floor of a five-story brownstone building. The building is old, and it looks like a particularly stiff breeze could be enough to knock it over, which isn't exactly comforting in a place known as the Windy City.

I look for a buzzer at the door, but don’t see one. Just as I’m starting to think I’ve got the wrong address, the door opens. Ezra is clean shaven and for the first time since I’ve known him, there are no deep circles under his eyes.

“Lidia, come in,” he holds the door open for me.

“You look good,” I say, letting my eyes rove over him for a moment.

“Thanks,” he replies. “I’m glad you could make it on such short notice.” He pulls the door closed after me and I follow him through the lobby and down a hallway, to his door. The building has a peculiar scent to it. It’s earthy and dark, but not musty. I think it’s limestone.

“I was surprised you asked me to come over,” I say, as he unlocks the door. “Is everything okay?” He doesn’t answer my question, and again, just holds the door open for me.

I don't know what I expected his apartment to look like, but it's not this. This place is too normal. It’s sparsely decorated with what appears to be family photos hanging on one side of the short hallway and a row of coat hooks on the other.

The air is thick with the awkward tension that you always feel when you're in someone's place for the first time. I end up shuffling uncertainly in the doorway for a moment.

“Come in,” he says. “Make yourself at home.” He offers to take my jacket and I shrug out of it with his help. He hangs it on the hook nearest the door, maneuvering around me to reach. The movement in the narrow hallway brings our bodies close together and I feel a thrill at the proximity.

I murmur my thanks before following him into the living room. It’s a small room with a tattered leather couch, an old television, and a bookshelf absolutely overflowing with knick-knacks and sheafs of paper. The whole room smells strongly of herbs. I can make out sage, rosemary, and mint the most. It’s an overpowering, but pleasant smell.

He sits on the couch and motions for me to join him. I sit beside him and let my leg brush against his. “What was so important that I needed to come over tonight?”

“Lidia, I need to talk to you about the ritual that we're going to attempt. I've told you that an associate of mine is going to perform the ritual.” I nod. He’s been oddly cagey about that. “Well, they want to meet you, to start preparing.”

“What kind of preparation do we need to do?” I turn to face him more fully.

“She wants to talk to you a little more about what steps to take after you finish the tea. I don’t know many details.” He looks uncomfortable.

“Okay,” I frown. “I guess it would make more sense for her to give me the details.” I’m feeling a little blindsided and I’m not sure how to feel.

“There’s a possibility that something could go wrong, and you may get hurt.” He nervously rubs at the back of his neck. “If it doesn't work it could also speed your transformation.”

“You never mentioned that before,” I say softly. I hadn’t even considered the possibility of this making the situation worse. I’m horrified.

“I didn't know about it until recently.” He looks irritated and shakes his head, as if to clear it.

“Who is she, this associate of yours?” The way he talks about her is so familiar, it’s hard not to feel a little jealous.

“Her name is Bea,” he says, face pinched in irritation. “She’s the best occultist I know, which is saying something. She’s also my older sister.” I remember what he said about vampire hunting running in the family. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. “She's good, but something like this,” he shakes his head. “Well, there's no record of it ever succeeding.”

“That’s not exactly reassuring.” I bite my lip to keep from saying more. I’m angry. I thought that this was going to be a sure thing. I thought that it would allow me to undo what’s happening and go back to my ordinary life. Apparently, that’s not the case.

“So, can I set up a meeting with her? She really won't proceed until she meets you,” he says.

“Of course, whatever it takes. If she's putting herself at risk to help me then I owe her at least that much,” I sigh. I still want to try. I think. The conviction I felt those first few days isn’t nearly as strong now. I know that I don’t want to hurt anyone and being a vampire would make it very difficult to avoid that.

“Great,” he says, sounding more awkward and uncertain of himself than I've ever heard him. Despite my irritation, I have to admit that it’s cute seeing him frazzled like this.

“Is that all you wanted to talk to me about?” I ask.

“That was the main thing,” he looks away thoughtfully.

“Can I ask you something then?” I ask, drawing his attention back to me. He nods and I clench my hands together before continuing. “Is it normal for someone like me to have the ability to sense danger?”

“To sense danger?” he repeats. “How do you mean?”

“Well, when I was being followed at the train station, I got this cold, tingling sensation at the back of my neck. It happened again right before I was attacked, and when you were following me on campus,” I explain. I don’t miss the way he grimaces at my words. “It happened again just a few hours ago when my roommate’s boyfriend came by the dorm. I don’t think he could pose any danger to me, so I’m just confused. I was wondering if you might know anything about it.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t,” he shrugs. “It may be an emerging ability.” He leans back on the couch, looking pensive. I catch myself staring at the way his muscles flex as he reclines. He’s wearing a plain gray t-shirt. It’s the first time I’ve seen him without a jacket. He’s slimmer than I realized.

“I see,” I sigh. “I just can’t figure out why Harry would have triggered it. He’s not dangerous.”

“That you know of,” Ezra says, looking at me. “There’s no indication that he isn’t human?”

“No,” I shake my head. “None at all.”

“Well, I guess the best you can do is keep a wary eye on him for now. I’ll see if I can find anything out for you.”

“Thank you.” I wish that I knew who these people following me are and what they want. It’s so frustrating not knowing who could be a potential threat. I feel like I can’t let my guard down, even in my own room.

I toy with the metal bracelet on my wrist. It’s become something of a worry stone for me over the past weeks. Its warmth against my skin helps me feel grounded. I’m not sure what power it has to protect me, Karl didn’t explain it. I didn’t give him a chance to, I suppose.

The air around us feels thick as we both ruminate over the situation. My life is in the balance no matter how things go. I want to be angry at Ezra for getting my hopes up, but it’s not his fault. He’s doing what he can to try to help me. I am grateful to him for that. Maybe I should take this as a sign that stopping this process really isn’t the right thing to do.

“Lidia?” I turn towards Ezra and startle, finding him much closer than he had been a moment ago. He presses his lips to mine gently. I surprise myself with my lack of hesitation as I bring my hand to his face, cupping his cheek as I return the kiss.

His fingers are cool on my skin as he threads them through my hair and cups the back of my head. I allow him to maneuver me to a better angle as he licks lightly at my lips. I gasp softly and allow his tongue access. He tastes like strong coffee and peppermint.

My heart is thundering against my ribs. I grab his waist, letting my fingers slip beneath his shirt. I can feel his muscles shifting as he brings his free arm down to my hip. I moan softly as he pulls me forward, urging me closer.

I try to move without letting go of him and he chuckles as I stumble. He grabs my waist and steadies me as I straddle his lap. I’m embarrassed and tuck my face into his neck to hide my blush. He skims his hands over my sides, making me shiver.

“Are you sure this isn’t a bad idea?” I ask.

“I’m sure that it is,” he says. “I’m having a hard time caring right now.”

I agree with him. This seems like a terrible idea given the circumstances. The possibility that this ritual will fail, and I will transform into a vampire is very real and if that happens, Ezra has already said that he'll kill me.

That fact does absolutely nothing to cool my attraction for him.

I kiss him and let my fingers trail down the side of his neck, pressing lightly over his pulse point. He makes a breathy sound and shivers. Maybe there's an element of danger to this that we're both drawn to. Maybe it’s pure physical attraction. I don't know, and right now, I don't want to think about it.

Ezra’s hand slips under my shirt, tickling up over my ribs and making me giggle. I sit back, leaning into him to keep my balance as I pull my shirt over my head. He grips my thighs and pulls me as close as he can. I tangle my fingers in his hair as he kisses my chest.

I was right. He’s like a cyclone.

When he finally stops holding himself back, the desires and emotions he’s held at bay slam into us like a force of nature. The end result may be destruction and devastation. Where we are now, in the eye of the storm, it’s hard to feel anything but exhilaration.