Here you go - you guys haven't been that active on it just yet, but I'm guessing it takes some time, here is, however, the second chapter. Keep up the reviews, and tell me what you think! Even guesses of the turns of events are highly encouraged... ;)

This makes me sound horrible, but now that we've dealt with the whole Brian issue in this chapter, it will be time to get on with some serious events. Keep posted!

Disclaimer: I do not own 'The Nine Lives of Chloe King' or any of its original characters.

ooo

Alek was sitting on the kitchen counter, a bottle of water in his hand. A nurse was tending to his wounds, which luckily turned out to be nothing more dangerous than cuts and heavy bruising, and thanks to the Mai healing ability were already healing fast. His eyes were fixed on the hospital bed on the other end of the room. A rhythmic sound of beeping originated from the machine that chloe was plugged into, determining her now steady heart beat. She was still unconscious, but her healing had progressed fast. Glancing at the clock on the microwave, he sighed. 04:33.

Just when the Mai nurse finished bandaging Alek, padding his shoulder lightly, Chloe groaned lightly. She opened her eyes, and rose slowly up to balance on her elbows. Alek placed the bottle on the counter and approached her.

"How are you feeling?" He asked, the question almost a whisper.

"Been better. but it's fine already. You?"

"Still breathing."

Chloe kept quiet, lifting her robe to see her stomach.

"The scars will be gone by tomorrow, according to Lucy, On your thigh aswell." Alek sat down next to Chloe's hip.

"Lucy?"

"The doctor." He paused slightly. "Chloe, I need you to tell me everything. I know it's not easy, but-"

"I'd rather not talk about it too many times. Can't we wait until Valentina makes it here? Besides, you could use this time to explain me why I found you with a gun pointed on your head by Zane."

Alek looked at here straight in the eyes. "You don't see it, do you? It's all connected."

"See what exactly? I'm no mind reader-"

"She's not coming back, Chloe. Ever."

ooo

Chloe's expression was extremely confused. She furrowed her brow. "What do you mean she's not coming back? Where is she?"

"Chloe…"

"This is starting to sound extremely worrying, Alek."

He placed his hand on hers, and Chloe studied his expression. It was as if he was trying to hold some emotions inside. Is he… crying?

"Chloe…"

Suddenly something else hit her as well. "Alek, where is Jasmine? If Zane… Oh God." She tried to sit up, but Alek pressed her chest gently down. "She's alright, isn't she? I mean… You got her safe before Zane flipped?"

Alek's other hand went to run through his hair. "They're gone, Chloe."

"G-g-gone? Where?"

"Gone as in dead."

Silence.

Chloe froze, her eyes locked with Alek's. He couldn't keep it in hima ny longer, but let the tears fall freely down his cheeks. His lower lip was quivering, but he made no sound, just stared at Chloe.

She was the first one to speak. Trying to keep herself calm for Alek's sake her question was only a whisper. "How?"

Alek swallowed multiple times before composing himself to answer. The falling of his tears never seized. "Zane. Took them out one by one, at least that's what he told me." He paused for a second. "When I came in it was too late. There was nothing I could do-" His sentence was cut out by a violent sob. Chloe felt her own tears start to fall down.

"This cannot be true. How… He beat them both? Here?"

"A poisonous dart on Valentina. Her heart was still beating when I got here, I could hear it, but Lucy said there was nothing I could've done after the dart hit her." Pause. "He stabbed Jasmine through her stomach. With that knife." He pointed towards the knife that Zane had used to hit Chloe, now in a sealed, seethrough plastic bag on the living room table.

Chloe didn't say anything for a good 15 minutes. The sat there, until their tears finally seized falling and their eyes, despite the everlasting pain on their hearts dried out.

"Is this it then?" When Alek's face resembled a question mark, she continued. "The end. Our doom. The whole race's doom. You know."

"Are you asking whether we're giving up on this fight?"

"If you want to put it so, then yes."

"Nobody is giving up. There's always hope. We're fighting. Until. The. Last. Fucking. Man. We owe that much to them."

Chloe's voice was but a whisper. "But how, Alek? How do we get back up on our feet?"

As if meaning to highlight the symbolism of Chloe's words, he got up, towering way over her bed. "We find a way. Even if it's the last thing we do."

ooo

Alek had asked her not to talk about Valentina and Jasmine to her mother. He'd said it was unnecessary, pointing out that the police had obviously not been informed, and he didn't want any legal problems, starting with his custody issues, him still being underaged and all. So now, a week later Chloe needed a believable explanation why exactly she was leaving the house on a sunday afternoon wearing a black dress. I'm running late, she cursed, grabbing her ballerinas in one hand and her purse in her other. No choice but to improvise.

"And where do you think you're going?" Her mother was not fooled by her prentiously casual walking towards the door. "Sit. Now."

"It's… Ah, you know me mom, just going out for a long walk. On a sunday night. Fairly normal."

"In a black dress? Nice try."

"Well, it's quite warm outside-" She was cut off midsentence by the doorbell. Her mother's eyebrows shut up to her hairline. "Expecting someone?"

Chloe didn't reply but ran for the door. She heard her mother get up from the couch and also make her way towards the hallway as she leaned to open the door.

It was no other than Alek behind the door, wearing black jeans with black suit jacket and a white shirt, it's highest button opened to make it look casual. She noticed his windblown hair and his smileless face. However, as soon as he spotted Chloe's mom behind her, his face spread into a dashing, faked smile. To Meredith, it passed for a real one.

"Good Afternoon, Meredith."

"Hi Alek." She turned towards Chloe. "A long walk outside?"

Chloe smiled sheepishly. "Well-"

"I hope there is no problem with me taking Chloe for a date tonight, is there?"

Meredith's smile widened. "Well, of course not. And this was so horrible, Chloe, that you couldn't tell me, because…?"

"Mom…"

She nudged her daughter with her side. "Off you go. Take care of her, Alek."

"Always will." He winked at Meredith, bowing just slightly, and offered Chloe his arm. She took it, and the exited the house.

"12:30, Chloe!"

Alek lead her to a shiny black Chevrolet parked in front of her house. He opened the door for her, and she coughed meaningfully. "Nice car."

"Valentina's."

ooo

Their drive was quiet. Chloe didn't find it awkward, but rather reassuring. The road, outside of San Francisco already, lead them straight into the forest. After half an hour or so, Alek finally stopped the car next to a few other ones, by a small clearing. Chloe intended to get out of the car, when Alek's cold hand was on hers.

"Chloe, I need you to promise me something."

"Yes?"

"Promise to not leave my side tonight."

"Ok, but why exactly?"

"If the Order for any reason found out about this and decided to attack… We would need to get you out as soon as possible."

"We're seriously even discussing such here?"

Alek looked frustrated. "Yes, Chloe, we are. Your safety is not only my priority now. Things have changed since past events." He got up, and opened the door for Chloe, offering her his arm. "You're lives are on my account. I will make sure nothing will ever happen to you."

With a small grop of perhaps 25 other Mai of the pride they buried Valentina and Jasmine next to a few other graves. Valentina's name had been engraved in an already existing stone, and Jasmine's on a new, blanko ne right next to it. Chloe studied the stones more closer.

"Nathan? Is that her-"

"Valentina's husband. Died 5 years ago."

"Did you know him?" She asked softly, studying Alek's expression. He had, however, cried his tears, and his face was blank, almost emotionless. "No. I arrived after his death." He paused. "And another family, destroyed. Another possible descending branch of Mais blown in the air."

"They will pay, Alek."

"He will pay," was his simple response, before he leaned down to place a white rose on both graves. Then he turned away, pulling Chloe with him towards the car. She topped, however, in fron of the car. "There's something I need to do, Alek."

"This doesn't sound good."

"We ne… I need to go visit Brian's grave."

Alek looked at her for a long moment, opening his mouth a few times as if to say something. Finally, after what seemed like a mental battle, he sighed. "This is definitely not good, Chloe. You know they'll be waiting for you there."

"We won't stay long, and we can use some other means of entrance than the main gate of the graveyard. I just… Need this. Really."

"I'm going to be honest with you. I don't like, it Chloe."

She was beginning to get pissed. Seriously pissed. "Is this truly about the Order or rather about your unnamed disliking of him?" She hissed, narrowing her eyes. "I killed him, Alek."

He placed his hands on her shoulders. "You. Did. Not."

"That is how I understand this freaking fiasco, Alek. I cannot just not see the grave. I'll let you come with me."

Alek's eyes flashed. "Let me come with you? You should try to remember who you're talking to. Uniter or not, I'm your protector and the only heir of your dead pride leader. Show some respect."

Chloe was confused. "Cool down. I… Can we just go?"

Alek let out a low whistle, and two bulky men, one dark-skinned and the other a striking ginger were by his side in an instant. He motioned towards the back seats. "We have some dangerous shit to deal with."

ooo

They landed on the graveyard from a neighbouring tree with a silent thump. Before Chloe could say a word, Alek took over control. "The name's Rezza. Brian Rezza. We're splitting up, just whistle if you find something." Without another word, the two hunters turned on their heels and left to separate directions. He turned to Chloe then. "Unfortunately, you're stuck with me. Let's move."

They searched for only a few minutes, until Chloe spotted the grave. Alek whistled the hunters to them, when she Kneeled down next to the stone to place a small bouquet under where his name was written. "Brian…" She touched the stone lightly with just her fingertips. "I never meant to hurt you. I'm so sorry." Tears appeared on her cheeks again, as she squatted there, motionless for a long moment.

Alek was trying to keep his expression composed. He is the one who came in between me and her, he muttered to himself, luckily only in his thoughts, so that Chloe couldn't catch him cursing. I should be sad for her loss, but I'm really… not. Only because she's hurting clearly so much. He couldn't help himself with the selfish turn his thoughts took. If that was me, would she be crying like this. Would she have even come? Right then Chloe stood up, dusting her dress of the dirt. Without looking Alek in the eyes she wiped her eyes on the back of her hand, and started walking past him. "Take me home, Alek. I can't do this any longer."