The Reckoning

(or at least my version of it :P)

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own any of the Darkest Powers books. A very nice lady named Kelley Armstrong does. You can find her on twitter by searching Kelley Armstrong. PS. If you want to read the first three chapters of the REAL book, The Reckoning, you can go to , click on 'Friends', then 'Locker', then put in the password (necromancer), click The Darkest Powers Sneak Peak page, and you'll get to read the first three chapters

Chapter One

Chloe

I woke up with a start.

"Chloe?"

Where the heck was I? I groaned as I propped myself up on an elbow, rubbing a sticky eye with my closed fist. Suddenly, I remembered. I was at the safe house.

"Chloe. It's 9 in the morning. Andrew wants us in the kitchen for breakfast. We got a lot of work to do if we want to pull off a jailbreak in the near future."

"Mmm." I focused in on who was talking to me, and was startled to find Simon's face so close to mine. I pulled back, hoping to god I didn't have morning breath.

"I'll be down in a minute." I said, taking care to keep the blankets pulled up around my chin. I was only wearing my undies, as I was trying to keep the little clothes I had as clean as possible before I was forced to get new ones, as laundry wasn't really an option these days.

I think Simon may have seen the pink strap of my bra though, because suddenly his face turned pink and he backed out of the room, stumbling over words that I think were trying to convey a 'take your time' sentiment. I smiled inwardly. Boys.

I pulled on my t-shirt and jeans, and winced as I shrugged the hideous gray sweatshirt Derek got for me over my head. My arm still hurt where the bullet had grazed it, which was no surprise. It had only been a few hours, though it felt like a lifetime ago.

I scurried down the stairs and saw Tori, looking impeccable as usual sitting next to Simon, Derek was opposite and he motioned to the chair next to him when he saw me appear.

"Well look who decided to make an appearance." Tori sneered. I shot her a glance, but was surprised to see her wink at me. Huh, maybe the whole bitch persona was just a facade. I gave her a tiny smile back.

"Good morning kids" Andrew called as he entered from the kitchen. His hands held four plates of pancakes, and was that sausage I saw? It was. I could barely help myself from salivating.

As soon as the plates hit the table we dived in, and I vaguely heard Andrew laugh at us, however I was too busy savoring, well, I guess inhaling might be a better word, my pancakes. They were dripping in syrup, just the way I liked them.

When I was finished I looked up. Derek was watching me with that amused look he gets when he thinks I'm being silly. His plate was completely clean, it almost looked like there had never been food on it to begin with.

"Hungry?" he asked, a smile playing on the corners of his lips.

"About as hungry as you I'm expecting" I said, motioning towards his shiny plate. His lips twitched, which I decided to take as a smile, and not a held-back retort.

"Okay, well, now that we're all fed, let's get to work." Andrew clapped his hands, and walked out of the room. We looked at each other.

"Helloooo.. Lets like, follow him?" Tori said, with rolled eyes. I got up pushing my chair back in after myself and pushed open the door Andrew had disappeared through. When I saw the room I had entered I stopped short.

"Ow." I stumbled. Stopping short when Derek is walking behind you is a bad idea, as I kept trying to remember. I rubbed my arm, and gazed around the room. It was huge and every square inch of the walls were either covered with computer monitors, television monitors, or giant bookshelves with hundreds, no thousands, of books. I stepped closer to one of the bookshelves and a faded blue volume caught my eye., the same book had given me to read, Nekromantia.

"There are only three copies of this book, right?" I asked Andrew, ignoring the look of surprise Derek shot me.

"Um...yeah. Although the third one has been missing for quite some time now... Anyway, guys. This is what I need you to do."

I folded myself into an oversized chair and felt heat rise into my face when Simon propped himself on the arm.

"It's pretty straightforward. We, myself and the rest of the group, have a layout of the building. What we don't know is the security system they have, or the schedules of the people that work there."

"I can help you with the security issue. Basically they have video surveillance, as well as good old fashioned bulk locks. I didn't see anything too high-tech, and I'm pretty sure would have made sure to mention it, the way he was trying to scare me." I offered.

"Great, great." Andrew mumbled, making notes in his book.

"And I took this from my mom. I looked through it last night, it has the schedules you want, and some passwords to some stuff... I don't really know, or care, about." Tori pulled out a leather planner type thing and handed it to Andrew.

"This is perfect Thank you Tori, Chloe." He pocketed the planner, and then sat down opposite me.

"Now, I know you want to save Rae. I understand, but I really can't risk you actually going back to the Edison Group right yet." Andrew looked apologetic, and he spread his hands. "Really guys, I think you should take this opportunity to chill out. Take some quality'me time' if you know what I mean. And your welcome to look through any of the books we have here, though computers are off limits."

I opened my mouth to speak, but Derek put a hand on my shoulder. "Later." he muttered, just loud enough for me to hear.

"Sound good?" Andrew looked hopeful.

"Yeah, sure." Simon smiled encouragingly.

"Great, you guys are behaving very responsibly. I'm proud of you." he smiled and stood up. "I guess I'll leave you four alone. You've got free reign." With a wave he headed out the door, and it was quiet until Tori, as usual, broke the silence.

"Um, so I don't know about you, but I am NOT just going to sit here while these losers have all the fun"

Derek looked bored. "Of course we're not. I didn't plan on even spending the night. I heard Andrew saying that he and the rest of them were going to another safe house tonight for an hour. I figured we'd leave then." He yawned, and I noticed his eyes looked glittery, his skin pale. I gave him a look.

"Derek, can I talk to you for a second?" I asked, "Alone?"

"Oh, hey, Tori, want to go explore? From the window of my bedroom it looked like this place has a killer backyard." Simon said, and Tori got up and followed, rolling her eyes a little at his enthusiasm.

I turned in my seat and faced Derek.

"You look-"

"I know." he cut me off. "It'll probably be tomorrow, maybe late tonight."

"Well, then are you sure it's a good idea to leave tonight? I mean, we have time, and I don't think it's such a great plan to be leaving while your in the middle of being a wolf. I mean, you might go all the way this time." I winced, expecting the usual tirade, but all I got was a sigh.

"I know. But I don't know when we'll get another chance to leave." He ran a broad hand through his hair, which had grown substantially and was now hanging in this eyes, and just barely touched his shoulders. "But look, if I do change when we're leaving... Just go. Take Simon and Tori and go. Don't wait for me. I can track you."

"No." I said before I could even think. Derek raised his eyebrows.

"What?" he growled.

"No. I'm not going to leave you alone the first time you change all the way. You need someone there, and it might as well be me. If you change while we're leaving, I'll tell Simon and Tori to go on ahead. You can still track them with me there."

"I don't need you." He mumbled and I felt like I had been slapped.

"I know, Derek. You don't need anyone. You're big, brave, fearless Derek. Boy of no emotions, too proud to admit when he wants company, too proud to admit he-" I stopped, and felt a weird sensation in the pit of my stomach.

"Too proud to admit what, Chloe?" he asked, his eyes challenging.

"N-nothing. I-I j-just want you t-to admit-"

"Slow down." he snapped.

I took a deep breath.

"I just want you to admit that though you may not need me, you wouldn't mind having me there."

He narrowed his eyes.

"Of course I wouldn't mind, I'd- Look, it's just not practical."

"What's not practical is you thinking you can manage a change all by yourself and then still track us right after." I shot back.

Derek sighed.

"Fine."

I smiled. I won I finally won

"But Chloe-" he put his hand on my arm, "Just, be careful. I've never changed fully. I don't know exactly what will happen. When I get there... run. If I'm ok I'll find you. If I'm not... wait where you are and when I'm ready I'll come."

I nodded, and in a burst of spontaneity, jumped up and threw my arms around him. I felt his body stiffen under my embrace, but then he relaxed, and awkwardly patted me on the back. I looked up and his green eyes stared back at mine, and I felt that strange sensation again. I pulled away, but Derek held on. He lowered his head down towards mine and my vision started to get blurry, when the door banged open.

"Come look what we found " Simon yelled, as Derek and I sprang apart. Simon lookedback and forth from each of us for a second. "Ha, you guys weren't doing anything that would make me jealous right?" He laughed, seeming unsure. I lowered my eyes, feeling guilty, though not sure why.

"Of course not." Derek grumbled, and walked out of the room, probably assuming we would follow him.

Simon looked closely at me, then shrugged. "Chloe, I found the coolest thing." He took my hand, and I was surprised not to feel anything. What the heck? Feelings don't change that fast, do they? I pulled a grin and followed him to the backyard, where we weaved through what seemed like half a mile of woods before we stopped.

"Look." Simon said, pointing to the right.

I did. And what I saw took my breath away.