Disclaimer: I do not own Midnight or Jaguar…they belong to Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Chapter 1

I stood inside the doorway of Varl's study, waiting for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. Slowly I began to see the faint outlines of the furniture, and I moved into the room with the sleek stealth of a cat. I paused for a moment, listening, before moving towards Varl's metal desk. Everything was silent…as I knew it would be. The Vampires were away enjoying the night, and the humans were asleep in their rooms. The shroud had fallen over Midnight, and now was the perfect time to carry out my long-awaited plan.

I knelt behind the desk and fished around in my pocket for the small lighter I had stolen from Mark earlier this morning. It took several tries before I finally had a wavering flame to illuminate the keyholes in the desk drawers. Locks, I snorted. Was that all Varl had to protect his dirty secrets? Locks were no match for the key I had swiped off of him last night. Perhaps he should start paying more attention to what his pets are doing while he's feeding on them.

I shook my head. Okay, time to focus. Get the paper first, and then gloat. I slid the key into the lock and turned, releasing a loud click. The drawer popped open with a screech. Yes! Oh yes! Finally! I trembled with excitement as the weak glow from the lighter spilled over a sheet of paper at the bottom of the drawer…a sheet of paper that would have Varl's heart staked. I snatched the paper up, slammed the drawer shut, whirled around and screamed.

"Oh you wicked girl! You nasty, devious girl!" Varl spat, his golden locks glinting in the cast light. "Trying to kill me human? Is that what you're trying to do?"

"No Lord," I gasped, cowering away, my heart jack hammering inside my chest. "No, no, please…"

"You tricky girl! You bad, bad girl!" He backed me up against the desk.

I tried to fall under the façade of loyal servant. "No my Lord, you don't understand! I heard the other Vampires talking! They knew about this paper, I was only trying to save…."

"SILENCE!"

I managed to whirl away just as Varl's blow came down. Instead of landing on me, his hand hit the desk, and the metal shattered as if it had been glass. I whimpered, dropped the lighter and ran to the door.

I made it out into the hallway before he caught me. I felt his long, slender fingers wrap around the back of my neck, and then he was slamming my face into the wall. Once, twice, three times; until the pain overwhelmed my senses to the point where I couldn't tell up from down. Finally he let me slide to the floor. He sneered down at me. "Do you still think you're clever human? Tricking me the way you did," he shook his head in mock sorrow, "Tsk, tsk. And here I thought you were a good little pet." Suddenly his face contorted into an awful expression. He grabbed me by my long hair and yanked me up; ignoring my screams of agony. "How did you know Raina? Who have you told!"

My eyes were swelling shut, and I could taste the blood running from my nose into my mouth. "N..no..one!" I cried, my tears stinging.

Varl smiled, revealing his two long fangs. I realized I had made a mistake. "Good," he hissed. "Then I'll just get rid of you, and this whole mess will be cleared up."

I stopped crying. The sick fear in my stomach slowly twisted and boiled into a churning fury. Fury because I had somehow failed what should have been fool-proof, fury because I had begged for mercy, and fury because I hadn't fazed Varl one bit. I hadn't made him feel the fear I had endured ever since I was seven. I hadn't made him tremble in terror. I hadn't mad him beg for his undead life. All I had done was create a small mess for him to clean up.

"Kill me Varl," I twisted in his grasp and glared at him through my slitted eyes. "But be quick about it leech, and when I'm dead remember how easily I could have destroyed you. Remember and fear…because your kind is not as invincible as they seem to think they are. I've found a way to destroy you all, doubtless others will too." I smiled at him then; ignoring the agony it caused my face to do so. I smiled at him till he slapped me and twisted my arms back. I fell to my knees, my shoulders screaming in protest. Still he twisted…he had no intention of letting my death be painless. I couldn't stop the wails that escaped my mouth. They bounced off of the walls and echoed throughout Midnight. No one would come to my aid though…this I knew. No one had the courage.

By now I was fading. My body had taken too much; my injuries had become too great. My mind slowly began to fade, and random images made their way into my fleeting thoughts. Memories of a home, of a family, of a life of bliss…all gone. All gone all gone all gone all gone all gone all gone all gone all gone…

"Varl, nice to see you."

Had I said that? From somewhere in the dark my mind came back to me. Then I realized everything was black because my eyes were closed. I tried to open them, but the most I could do was squint. Hazy…why was everything blurry? My face felt wet…why was it wet?

"Rafe? What the hell are you doing here!"

"Just thought I'd swing by and take a look at Jaguar's Midnight…I'm glad you missed me." Slowly things came back into focus, and I spotted a figure in the shadows leaning lazily against the wall. "Bein' a little hard on the girl don't you think?"

I heard Varl's cruel laugh behind me, and he gave my arms another wring. I uttered a gurgled moan, and prayed for death to hurry up and take me. "I'll do what I want with my pets…especially when they've been bad."

Suddenly Rafe stepped out from the shadows, and I had a clear view of him. He was dressed all in black…black silk shirt, black silk pants, black boots, and a black trench coat to top it all of. His hair was black too, and it fell over his eyes. His eyes…now that was what caught the attention of my squint. He had the brightest green eyes I had ever seen. It was like someone had taken two polished emeralds and stuck them into his sockets. He took what little breath I had away…vampires were beautiful, but he was gorgeous.

"She's dying." He turned those brilliant eyes on me, and gave me a bored look. "Let her up."

I was half dead, true, but even in my current state my jaw felt like dropping. No one ordered Varl around. The vampire was hot, but he was obviously stupid. Varl seemed as shocked as I. "Excuse me?"

A slow grin spread across Rafe's face as he turned to Varl. "What's the matter vampire? Gettin' old?"

"Who the hell do you think you are...?"

"Rafe Straton…the one and only," he bowed gallantly and laughed.

I could feel Varl trembling from rage behind me, and his hands squeezed my arms even tighter. "I'll snap you to pieces Rafe! Pull your fangs right out of your gum! Make you scream and beg for mercy, just like her…"

Suddenly the pressure on my arms was gone, and now it was Varl who was being held in a death grip. Rafe had him pressed up against the wall, and bent back at an unnatural angle. Varl was howling in pain, but Rafe only shook his head. "Listen Varl," I heard him say, "I've been gone a long time and no doubt you've forgotten your manners, so I'll excuse you this time…" he suddenly swung Varl around and lifted him off the ground by his neck, "but the next time I give you an order…I suggest you follow it." He raised an eyebrow as if waiting for a contradiction from Varl; then casually dropped him back onto the floor. As soon as Varl realized he was free, he scrambled to his feet and disappeared down the hall.

I was watching Rafe laugh when unconsciousness beckoned to me again. I must have moaned, because Rafe suddenly looked at me and frowned. "Damn sugar, he banged you up pretty bad…" I lost the rest of his words as my mind drifted back into the darkness.