It was as if her entire world had been turned upside down. Part of her had wanted to trust in Jaden, wanted to put all of this aside and forget it. And yet, Clara knew full well that she couldn’t simply push it all away. Perhaps he had never intended on this happening - she couldn’t very well picture him wanting any of this to happen with the way he had hoped for her forgiveness, but he had broken her trust in more ways than one and to her, that was nearly unforgivable. And yet, Jaden was literally the only person she had left in this world. Even still, the only one she had left had betrayed her.

For now, Clara wanted to be alone; she needed to be alone and far away from him. She needed to think, needed to mull over everything that had happened then and now. She needed to clear her head. Sure - drinking excessive amounts of alcohol wouldn’t necessarily lead to a clear mind, but it was a crutch - a vice that she needed to indulge in at least for now to make her feel at least the slightest bit better. Jaden had neglected her the night before, but she had been at fault as well. It was due to her fit, the need to make him jealous come the end of the night that she had practically thrown herself at … whatever that side of Jaden was. And, perhaps, had it not been for the fact that she had woken to a room full of bodies - that the one responsible for it all had been Jaden himself - it could have been the most euphoric and exotic night of her life. He had gotten into her soul, satisfied every want and need in an overwhelming wave of lust and desire. And somehow, she had come out of it unlike the others.

Clara had taken a large sip of her wine before she had sunken down against her pillows, curling on her side as she stared at her glass, focusing on the little ripples in her wine as she moved in the slightest atop her mattress. She needed time to herself and then maybe she could talk to Jaden again once she wasn’t as emotional… His remorse had struck a nerve with her now that she was away from him, but her trust would still be something he needed to earn back…

Her thoughts had come to an abrupt halt as she had felt him before she had seen him - the quick shiver down her spine that made her so terribly uneasy and yet hungry all in the same. It settled within her belly, reminding her full well of the evening before, and Clara had suddenly sat up before her gaze fell upon him. Her glass was barely held onto at her side as she stared at the figure before her, part of her immediately falling into that daze - especially as she had felt the touch against her cheek. It built so subtly within her again, almost urging her to submit once more so she could be lost to the fit of passion again. She hadn’t drank that much -- she couldn’t have been imagining this… could she? Jaden had still been downstairs as far as she knew…

The thought of Jaden had almost made her snap out of it and she immediately pulled herself away from him until she had felt the headboard behind her back. ”You…” Clara suddenly bit out and her gaze narrowed in the slightest despite that horrible temptation that filled her even then. “Get the hell away from me. You caused all of this.” She hissed.

The anger and frustration had only continued to swell within her at the appearance of Asmodeus, knowing that if she had not been so stupid the night before then she would still be blissfully ignorant of the secrets that Jaden had chosen to keep from her. She had been so spiteful; so angry that Jaden, of all people, had forgotten about her in the whirlwind of things that she had purposely gone looking for trouble. How easy it would have been to land herself a normal goddamn male - instead of what she had found… But that was just her luck, wasn’t it? And now, even as she wanted to be alone to drink away the revelation of every little thing, she was disturbed by the one who had enticed her, who had drawn her in so very easily and who had left her wanting more. And yet - as he spoke, maybe he did have a point… It wasn’t necessarily himthat had forced everything to shit -- it was the discovery of him. Jaden couldn’t hide it anymore now that she had woken up in the mess of things…

He had appeared next to her then but Clara hadn’t moved, her form stiff where she still remained on her bed. His touch against her neck had made her breath hitch, her brow furrowed at the words he continued to speak - the truths that he continued to feed her. The fact of the matter was, when she had awoken in the mess of the bodies at the club, she hadn’t been as disturbed as she probably could have been. Her anger and worry had lie only with Jaden and the realization that he was not exactly what he had seemed. No, it was an instinct of hers to hunt; to kill… to feed from her prey and yet she had been denied that right. He had provided everything for her and she had fed from him whenever she had needed it. In a way, Asmodeus was right again -- despite Jaden’s reasoning, he had been suppressing her.

Each slow touch, each word he had spoken had dug deep within her and she had felt that familiar warmth in the pit of her stomach, wanting to burst forth again. She had felt that yearning that she knew quite well he could quell, and even then some… As he turned her head, her lips had parted and her breathing had quickened in the slightest both from the anger that he continued to build within her, and the anticipation of what he could have had in store for her. No matter how reluctant she had been, no matter how much she had wanted to place blame on him, each explanation and each word had dug into her soul, filling her with that same desire that she had felt the evening before.

He was right, wasn’t he?

Her brow furrowed as he continued, almost disappointed that he had pulled away from her even then. Jaden did owe her, didn’t he? Jaden had lied to her all of this time; he had twisted the truth; kept her so terribly sheltered and the moment she had been let loose the evening before had been marred by those same lies and the inevitable need to keep her by his side with his excuses. Now she was left with a choice, once more facing the intoxicating option at hand that really had no need to be ignored. She understood that she had wanted it again -- she had a taste of him and she was becoming addicted… He was a drug to her that she couldn’t quite put aside. Her body had craved him and it was out of spite once more that had driven her to want to make Jaden entirely aware that he had hurt her. And to hear that she had beenwanted... had been what had added the fuel to her fire.

Clara had found that she had leaned closer to where he was, her gaze almost a haze as she focused only on him at that moment. Her wine glass had been forgotten, toppled off to the side as the smallest amount of white wine that had remained had spilled upon her sheets, but she hadn't noticed, nor did she care. “...What do I have to say?”

Clara had hung on his every word in that moment, her hunger and desire stronger than any sense of reasoning and doubt could overpower. She knew not of any repercussions that her actions could have, lost in a haze of neediness for the erotic and mind-blowing sensations that she was given the night before. She was angry at Jaden, her trust had been entirely broken and scattered upon the floor between them and all she wanted to do in that moment was show him her anger. Not only that, she wanted Asmodeus to make her forget it all. She wanted to be lost once more in a fit of desire and passion and she didn’t want to think of the new ache and void that Jaden had now caused her. It had only frustrated her further, not only to find out that she was a mere pawn in her sire’s plans, but to realize that Jaden had saved her only based on the fact that she had looked like his deceased wife. He had been selfish in bringing her back; in keeping her for himself when she so readily was willing to die after everything when she was younger. Now, in place of what she once was, was a hungry and vengeful creature, hurt now by the only man that she thought she could trust -- and she wanted to teach him a lesson.

She leaned needily into Asmodeus’ touch once more, listening carefully to his instructions as his touch had still elicited the slightest bit of pleasure. The need within her was growing and all she could think of or want was to have him inside her once more. As he disappeared from her sight, so did his touch and she was left feeling empty again -- her desire and anger filling what it could, forcing her to push herself almost clumsily out of bed from the wine she had already tossed back previously.

Her steps were quick back down the hall and to the study where she could hear him, her walk focused -- knowing she had a purpose no matter how much she didn’t want to see him in that moment. She needed him… She needed him for Asmodeus.

Clara had turned the corner to his study and had lingered outside the door in a moment of hesitation, wondering in the briefest of moments, if she should -- or rather, could do this to him. If she could very well use him just as he had her… But she had held firm to the anger and hurt of everything he had lied to her over, about all of the truths he had suddenly revealed after a night like last -- after centuries of believing one thing and now realizing he wasn’t entirely who she thought he was. No, he deserved this - he deserved to be used at least this one time…

“Jaden - I need to talk to you.” Her voice was firm and she stepped with a sort of resolve, determination danced across her features laced with that scrunch of anger. And yet, her gaze seemed almost hazy - looking at him as if it weren’t him, looking at him with that desire from the evening before that she needed satisfied. She hadn’t wanted to hear him protest; to hear anything that could have come from his lips at that point as she immediately approached him. Her heart was pounding, she knew, but she had to do this.

Clara had approached his seat and despite anything he had been doing, she immediately stood in front of him, her focus entirely on him and not the scattered papers around him, the broken quills tossed on the floor, or what he could have been writing. Her hands had soon come to cup his face just as he had said to do, watching him for only a moment, almost savoring that second before she had opened her mouth to speak - her voice firm, swirling with that anger and pain - knowing full well he was going to be angry with her after everything was said and done. And yet, she still spoke the words that Asmodeus had wanted her to…

“ Imple desiderium meum satiare famem, et factus est mihi…”

The morning - or rather, the afternoon had come far too quickly for Clara. She hadn't quite remembered when she had given in and had fallen into slumber, or even when Asmodeus had finally allowed it. All she knew, was that she was entirely spent, exhausted, and eager to curl herself up and welcome the sleep that had pulled at her senses for hours on end before it had been dismissed repeatedly. Now, all she knew was the comfort of her bed that had been entirely disheveled. Somewhere along the lines she had managed to wrap herself up in the slightest with a sheet, but even as it had only covered a bit of her legs, she didn't care. Sleep was more important, and it wouldn't be until the morning that she realized she would have to face Jaden in the wake of it all.

Clara hadn't quite thought things through; she had been manipulated into sending Jaden away and calling forth Asmodeus, but she didn't entirely regret it either. She had thought the evening in the club had been one of the most erotic nights she had known -- but now it didn't even compare to the evening before. She had endured hours upon hours of pure lust and desire, passion and utter satisfaction amidst the pain and pleasure that he inflicted upon her. For the first time in a long time, her body had felt entirely heavy, exhausted and yet still satisfied in the wake of his abuses. Her skin had still been caked with quite a few dried bodily fluids and she smelt entirely of sex. There had been a few bruises here and there from his rough handling of her that hadn't quite faded through the hours as of yet, and still, there had been that mark that he had left on her shoulder - the one that allowed him every bit of control over her desire for him.

Somewhere in the afternoon, Clara had shifted in the slightest, her body wrapped entirely around another's - arms splayed and wrapped around his middle as her legs were entangled with his own. Her head had rested on his chest, but her tousled hair had covered most of her face. Her body ached - and yet, it still felt sore in such a magnificent way - and despite her exhaustion she knew full well she was hungry. Asmodeus had practically drained her the evening before and she hadn't quite the energy to move just yet, despite the fact that Jaden was bound to wake up just as confused as before... and probably pissed off at her. Clara didn't know why she should even bother to care -- he had betrayed her, lied to her over everything she could have possibly known, and yet he expected her to simply forgive and hopefully forget. He was the one she was supposed to trust and believe in and she couldn't now - and it was absolutely out of spite and anger that she had used him the evening before, not even caring this time around that it was his body that she was using. She wanted him to feel every ounce of helplessness and hurt that he had inflicted upon her. She wanted him to know exactly how it felt, despite the fact that she was probably putting herself at risk when it came to Asmodeus, despite the fact that he had literally marked her the evening before and she wasn't entirely sure what that had meant. Really, what did she have to lose at this point when Jaden was all she had left?

She was comfortable and terribly content in the world of sleep that Clara had finally been able to succumb to after hours upon hours of Asmodeus' abuses. She had been entirely spent, her body aching in his aftermath but she would not complain. Hell, she had asked for all of this, had practically begged for it and hadn't cast a second though towards the retributions she would have to face in the wake of it all. Clara had been decidedly selfish that evening, her plan of simply drowning away her evening in bottles of wine entirely pushed aside as soon as Asmodeus had given her an option that she hadn't thought of just yet. It was an easy decision, amidst her anger towards Jaden, that she could so easily push him aside and call forth Asmodeus not only to do whatever he pleased with her, but for her to take advantage as well. Just the sheerfeeling of want, regardless of the hollow physicality of it all, was enough to drive her to push Jaden aside. After all, he was the only one she was supposed to be able to trust and clearly she couldn't do that, so why not take advantage of him all in the same? He had hurt her, so she had planned to hurt him back – and throughout that intoxicating and exhausting evening, she hadn't given a thought towards him.

Now, as she felt herself pushed aside, Jaden's sudden shout had her wincing with a groan as soon as she had collected herself in her haze of sleep. "Fuck!" Clara hissed under her breath, immediately burying her face into one of her pillows. She had rolled onto her stomach away from Jaden, the sheets still covering her lower half but part of her could care less if it was covering her or not. She hadn't known what time it was, but she still felt terribly exhausted and so very hungry. Then again, judging by the way Jaden was suddenly waking up to all of this, she assumed that option wouldn't quite be on the table immediately.

Clara was slowly registering the fact that Jaden was back and where she thought he would be screaming at her for her choices, she was quite surprised that he hadn't remembered a thing about it. He hadn't remembered exactly what she'd done, and by the sounds of it, he didn't quite know what had entirely happened between them – how she quite frankly used and abused his body just as much as Asmodeus had done to her.

Amidst his frantic attempt to piece things together, Clara had only breathed a sigh as she closed her eyes, her head still buried in the pillow. She was too tired for this, and honestly, too worried to see whatever could be in his eyes in that moment. Especially when she had heard his apologies… Even for something as simple as yelling. That's what suddenly made her insides twist and made the regret surface. He wasn't angry at her because he hadn't a clue what she had done. Part of her wanted to keep it that way and yet, regardless of how hurt she'd been by him, regardless of how angry she still was, that guilt was something she couldn't quite sit with either. They'd been together for centuries and although she had wanted to hurt him terribly the evening before, now, the reward didn't feel so wonderful as she thought it would.

She winced as he continued to beat himself up, almost retracting into himself even then as Clara had mustered the courage to peek up from the pillow at him through tired eyes. She didn't want to sit up, her own body still protesting her own movement despite her usual strength and healing. She absolutely needed to feed, and she needed to do it soon if she wanted to climb out of that bed for the day – which she still was reluctant to. She had pulled the sheets up to wrap around her chest, breathing a deep sigh as she pushed her tousled hair from her face, shoving it over her shoulder. "Cut the shit, Jaden." She murmured as she rolled her shoulders despite the ache that she felt. She glanced down at herself, eyeing the yellowish bruises around the tops of her breasts that had started to fade, the bits of dried blood and other fluids that rested against her skin and some of her sheets. She needed a damn shower, but she still didn't have much of the energy to get up. That would have been a lovely deterrence from having to deal with Jaden – an easy distraction and yet, his words still ate at her.

"You didn't do shit, alright?" Clara murmured as she glanced at him for only a moment before she looked away from him. "I was pissed at you… hell, absolutely hurt by you and your damn lies, and quite frankly I didn't want to see your ass for quite some time." She added as she leaned back in her place for a moment. She glanced to one of her end tables and leaned over, eyeing the bottle of wine that she had abandoned the evening before, and the broken glass that had managed to fall off her bed at some point and onto the floor. She reached into her drawer to grab a ponytail, carefully trying to keep herself covered as she faced her back towards him in an effort to tie her unruly hair up to get it out of her face. It was easier to talk when she couldn’t' see his judgement either. "And, well, he showed up… and… told me how I could get back at you." Her last few words were rushed as she dropped her hands back to her lap before looking over at him. "You don't remember the fact that I came into your study again?" She asked with a raise of her brow. Part of her was almost indifferent to the situation even then, while the other part of her swelled with guilt over taking advantage of him, despite how he'd lied to her. "Anyway – I'm sure you can piece together what happened after that." She murmured, sinking back into her pillows as she glanced over herself, checking for any other bruises or anything that could have been left behind in his wake, bracing herself as she waited for everything to register before he lost it on her.

Clara didn't exactly know what to expect from Jaden now that the truth had hung on the air between them. What had seemed like a magnificent idea the evening before, now seemed quite foolish as she had to actually say out loud what she had done and why she had done it. Perhaps it really was a bad idea, but other than how it could have effected Jaden, she couldn't see anything further that was so terribly horrible. Sure, she had been selfish. She had wanted another night like the one at the club, no matter what the cost. She had wanted that attention, no matter how false it really was. She understood how addicting his touch was - every single sensation had been something she had never felt before and she almost lusted for it in her own way - Jaden had only managed to push her towards Asmodeus with his own damn lies. The realization that she was worth practically nothing, even to her sire who she had grown to hate with every fiber of her being. The realization that the only reason Jaden had taken her in, in the first place was because she had reminded him of his dead wife... All of her insecurities had been brought to light and only amplified the evening before. Sure, she should have simply ignored Asmodeus - she should have pushed it all aside and drank her night away like she usually would, but it was just so damn tempting to make Jaden hurt as much as she did in that moment.

But now... It wasn't so appealing.

Clara had braced herself for the yelling and reprimanding that she could have almost hoped would come... But she had suddenly felt deflated when his words hadn't come out the way that she had anticipated. She stared at him for only a moment as he spoke before she looked away from him, unable to see that betrayal and hurt that she had wanted to see so horribly, on his features. The guilt that was within her had only built itself higher. He had not yelled at her - no, yelling at her probably would have been the easy way out. Clara could have taken his shouting, could have yelled and screamed on her own, and been able to storm off feeling satisfied with herself. What Jaden had done now had only made her feel regret although a part of her wanted to fight back. She wanted to tell him he was wrong; that she knew full well what she was doing. But the fact of the matter still remained - she had no idea what she was getting into when it came to Asmodeus. All she understood was that he knew exactly how to make her feel the things she wanted to, and that had been good enough for her. Clara had felt that she had nothing to lose, especially the evening before, but now as Jaden still remained in her bed and had seemed only to warn her about Asmodeus, she wasn't so sure.

She couldn't look at him, even as the silence gripped them both. Her gaze focused only on her own skin, on her sheets, on the room around them - anything to keep her from seeing the judgement in his gaze. His words had grown harsher, and she almost wanted to scoff at his chiding, but she knew better... He knew more of Asmodeus than she ever would, and she would be ignorant to blow off his warning. And yet - what did it matter anymore? Why the hell could Jaden even care what happened to her - if she decided to take absolute advantage of the attention she was given? So what if she would be lost to it all - at least then she would have a bit more closure to her life and would have gone out the way she wanted to, instead of being trapped and forced to live as he had made her when she once begged for death.

Still, his words had made her flinch as she listened to the tone of his voice. Did she understand? "Fine - Yes... I get it..." Her words were reluctant even then, quiet despite herself. Clara had only glanced his way for a moment, cautious in her choice of words - afraid to even speak as if all of this was going to lead up into the yelling that she thought she was going to get. "Look... I'm sorry." She murmured, although it might have fallen on empty ears as she pulled her legs up to her chest, making sure to still keep her sheet around herself. That guilt hadn't faded and she had a feeling that it wouldn't for quite some time. She frowned as she looked down to the top of her covered knees with a quiet sigh to herself. Fuck- what could she expect, really? That she would wake up that morning and feel absolutely great about what she'd done? Now, she felt like an absolute piece of shit and the fact that Jaden still remained had only made her feel worse.

But what had eventually pushed her even further over the edge of that guilt was when she had heard his command and had looked up to see his head tilted - waiting for her to finally drink from him. He must have realized she'd been hungry; or he'd assumed considering the events of the evening before, she wasn't certain. But, part of her had wanted to decline. Part of her had wanted to distance herself from him at least for now - figure it out on her own and find someone to feed on in town. But she knew better than that - Jaden probably wouldn't let her. The frown was still on her lips as she only cautiously scooted close to him, the reluctance written in every move that she made. Even so, she closed the distance between them and hesitated - almost not wanting to touch him in her own guilt that flurried around her like a snowstorm. Still, her hunger had taken over in moments and she bared her fangs before biting into his neck -- drinking slowly as she needed. It was only after she was finished that her tongue had slid gently over the wound she had created, but she hadn't pulled away just yet. "...I really am sorry." Her words were quiet and cautious against the crook of his neck even then.

His initial confirmation that he at least understood her apology had not been as comforting as she could have hoped. She lingered close to him, her face still buried in the crook of his neck for only a moment longer as Jaden began to speak, and she found herself returning to where she initially was on the bed. Clara had adjusted the sheets around her as she listened to his words, to the acknowledgement that he had done her wrong and in turn had caused her to practically jump at the first opportunity to get him back for the pain he had caused. Again, that acknowledgement hadn't made her feel as great as she could have supposed, but at least he realized the error he had made... Should she have known the truth long ago, perhaps it would have been an easier pill to swallow. Now, centuries later, it felt as if the floor had been pulled from beneath him. For him to cover up every bit of it for so long, and the fact that he'd done such a perfect job at it, it had her trust in him entirely shaken.

Clara knew she hadn't made things easy between the two of them over time -- it was easier to push someone away then it was to let them in, and it was that belief that had her arguing with him on more than one occasion. Should she push him away, then he couldn't hurt her. Oh, how terribly mistaken she was, since he had managed to weasel that pain right in without her having an inkling of a warning.

She had shifted and sunk into her pillows, feeling her back press against the headboard behind her. Honestly, Clara hadn't expected the sheer amount of guilt that weighed down onto her shoulders even then. She had thought he would have stormed off, would have left her after his own realization, but there he remained, still wrapped in her sheets, wrapping his mind around everything that had happened over the past couple of days and taking the blame where blame was due, even though she had her own amount of blame to carry. She had only glanced to him when she saw him fall back into the mass of sheets, the frown falling on her lips as he continued his self-reflection that had turned into a sudden acknowledgement that had left her almost flinching at the way he'd quickly risen, the way he had placed his hand on her shoulder which had forced her gaze onto his own.

He had spoken with such conviction, that it was hard not to believe him all at once. The way his gaze had bore into her own as he made such promises, she wanted terribly to believe him but... Clara had swallowed the small lump in her throat as she listened to him, unsure of if he would be able to keep those promises. Clearly, up until now, he hadn't been able to in the least. He'd not protected her, but then again, she had allowed the evening before. She tossed herself up, regardless of the risks, for a selfish night in order to get back at Jaden. Now, when he so adamantly wanted her to stay away from Asmodeus, no matter what the cost, she wasn't entirely certain that she could keep that promise. In the moment, the way he seemed so passionate in his resolve, it was easy to absolutely want to promise him everything, apologize profusely for what she'd done, knowing full well it was wrong... But then there was that selfish side that ached for that touch once more, and should she be provoked... She wasn't terribly certain she would be able to deny him.

There was a split moment of hesitancy, one that she hoped Jaden hadn't noticed. She licked her lips for a brief second as she had mulled over her answer. Could she avoid Asmodeus as Jaden had requested in an effort to help him protect her? "I-- I promise." Clara had answered, her voice quiet and almost defeated in her answer. That frown remained on her lips as she watched him, still unsure that he could even uphold the promises that he'd laid out before her. She'd learned a long, long time ago that she couldn't trust anyone and it would be an uphill battle to bring herself to believe Jaden. "I just..." Clara sighed quietly as she looked down to her lap. "No more lies, Jaden... I can't stand any more of it, and I think you know that." She lifted her gaze back to his, the frown still curled about her lips.

He had seemed so damn sure of himself this time, hadn't he? The way he had met her gaze, speaking with that same conviction that was so difficult to find fault in, Clara had wanted to be swayed by him. She wanted to believe him and be able to say with absolute sincerity that she could avoid anything Asmodeus might throw her way, but a the day, that certainty wasn't entirely there. She would try, absolutely she would try if it was worth it at the end of the day, and yet that fact still lingered between them. He promised that there would be no more lies and deception, but did that mean things would still be alright between them? Things couldn't quite go back to the way they were - where the most that happened between them was a good argument here or there, the usual banter, and an occasional night out. Now, she knew his secrets, and he knew her own weaknesses more than he had when he had first met her.

There was a long moment of silence between them as Clara seemed to mull over everything before she had decided to speak. "Alright, Jaden..." She began with a small sigh, moving to fall back into her pillows before she glanced up to her ceiling. The sheets had been shifted and pulled around her more securely as she closed her eyes for a moment. She was still rather exhausted due to the evening's activities, and although feeding from Jaden had replenished her in a way, she still had felt worn. "We'll get passed it..." She murmured. It may take some time, she still wasn't terribly as certain as she would have liked to be, but she supposed she had to figure it out. She wasn't sure what Asmodeus could have wanted from her, and perhaps she would have to push aside that selfishness in order to appease Jaden, no matter how difficult it might be.

At least she would try...