Thank you for everyone that has read my story and toke the time to write me a review. Please keep R&R, that would be greatly be appreciated so that I can help improve my writing. Also so I can meet your wants and need. Thanks for the time, hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I sadly don't own "The Nine Lives of Chloe King" nor do I own the characters. *silently sobbing in a corner*

Chapter 3

"Where's Valentina and Jazz? Are they okay? Was Zane here when you found me? Did he hurt you? Why is there blood on your shirt? Is it mine? Jazz's? Yours? His?" He asked me in a hurried blur as he pulled me to the door.

He was in such a rush I had hardly anytime to respond and react to them. And his hand, his hand was all I could think about. The fact that he was even touching me made my hand tingly and my stomach do somersaults. His hand was so soft, but I had to concentrate on what he was saying.

"God, damn it, Chloe! Answer me!" He shouted knocking me out of thought.

"What? Oh, sorry. Valentina and Jasmine are in critical condition. They almost didn't make it. The healers are doing all they can to help them right now. But so far they are in a coma state. I'm so sorry Alek, I know that's not the answer you wanted to hear, but …" I watched him as the realization settled on his face. I stared as his eyes started to get glossy and watery. It was so over-whelming, not only because I loved him and didn't want him to feel this pain, but because I was getting a whirlwind of empathy hits, as Paul liked to call them.

I had to focus on our surroundings right now, even though it was hard; Alek and I had to get out of the city as fast as we could. With that bastard Zane still out there no place was safe. I still can't believe how easily he had gotten into the apartment and attacked Jasmine and Valentina.

"And the blood, well, it's mine."

"Gosh Chloe! Please don't tell me you lost another life!"

"I kind of did …"

"Chloe! How can you be so careless with your lives? Never mind! We'll have to talk about this when we get some where safe." He shouted angrily as he knocked into Igor.

"Umm … Uniter … we still can't find your mom. Why aren't you in bed Alek? And where are you guys going?" Said Igor with a puzzled look on his face.

"We are leaving, I'm taking her to a safe house I built. I-we, " he corrected himself, "can't risk her losing any more lives. We will call you when we get there." He responded so fast that I didn't have anytime to answer myself.

"What do you mean you can't find my mom? I thought you said you had this under control, that you'd find her!" I shouted hysterically, trying so hard to choke back the tears but it was useless.

"I'm sorry Uniter, but-" He was interrupted by the sound of my phone ringing loudly.

I pulled my phone out to see who was calling me this late in the night only to see with great relief that it was my mother.

"Mom! Whe-"

"Hello, Chloe." Said a dark and mysterious voice that I could have sworn I'd heard before. I gasped, as my vision started reeling. Alek hearing the anxiety in my voice grabbed me holding me upright. He looked so worried like he thought I was going to be violently ill. I kind of felt like I was going to be.

"Who are you? And what have you done with my mother?" I shouted frantically into the phone.

"That will all be reveled in time, Miss. King." He replied calmly.

"I am asking you one more time, tell me where my mother is or I'll kill you." I said into the phone, my voice shaking with authority I'd never heard before.

"Ah, if that's how you want this it to be then let it be, Miss. King. I will be calling you again in precisely three hours. You will answer this call alone and you will follow my directions to the t. If there is any, and I mean any slip-ups not only will I personally kill your mother, you, but your precious little British twit. Goodbye, Chloe. I await hearing from you again."

I stared at the phone, jaw opened, stunned listening to the dial tone. All of a sudden I felt two strong muscular arms on my shoulders, gently turning me around so that I could cry into his chest. My whole world was crashing down all around me. All he said was "Shh." As he held me protectively, petting my hair trying to sooth me.

My heart was breaking, while my mind went racing trying to come up with a plan to save my love ones. I knew there was absolutely no way in hell Alek would ever let me leave his side. As much as I didn't want to, I had to save them. It was my fault that they were put in danger anyway.

I had to come up with a plan, a very clever one. And I had to think of it fast. I had to save my mom and keep Alek out of harms way. I was done with putting the ones I loved the most in front of a target. There was no way I would ever let him risk his one valuable life on me. There was no going back. There was no way anyone, not even Alek that could change my mind. It must be done and I was running out of time.

I had been in such a daze that I didn't even remember going into Alek's bedroom to rest. Alek must have been there the whole time too, for he was holding me protectively and sound asleep. I stood abruptly from Alek's bed pulling his strong, defined arms off of me. I had to hurry; looking at my phone I saw that there was only an hour left before that disgusting human being would be calling me back. Alek woke up instantly, feeling my warmth disappear from his grasp.

"What are you doing up, love?" He asked, becoming fully aware of his surroundings.

"Shhh, go back to sleep, honey. I'll be right back." I said putting my finger over his lips delicately.

"Where are you going? What are you doing?" He asked still not believing me fully.

"I'm just going to go use the shower. I still haven't washed the blood off of me." I leaned down carefully not to hit his still healing shoulder and placed one light kiss on his cheek.

"I love you, Chloe." Was all he said as I got up leaving the safety of his side. As soon as I reached the bathroom I locked the door and ran to turn on the shower. I looked all around; I had to find a way out. The only thing I could find was a window with a tiny ledge. It was worth the risk.

I pushed the window open, slashed the screen open trying to be as silent as I could. I knew they would all be listening intently for any apposing threats. I toke one last look back before I stretched out my claws and made my descent into the darkness.

Okay, Chloe, you can do this! You're not that high up. Just don't look down; don't look down. That was all I could do as I tried to reassure myself. Scaling down from over eighteen stories was not my best idea ever, but it was all I had to work with. You're almost there Chloe, just calm down. You can do it. As I reached down to grab onto the next brick, when my claw got stuck! Oh crap! I should have thought this threw more! How could I have been so stupid!

I struggled, trying to free my claw. It was completely and utterly useless. Well not completely, I could always use my other claw to pull it out, but then I might fall. I have to take my chances and pray to the Goddesses that I'd be okay. I slowly released my grip for the brick I was latched onto and started pulling at my other one. It freed, finally! Oh no! I didn't have anytime to grab onto the side of the wall as I started to free-fall.

It was like the weight of a ton of bricks pushing down on my chest as I started plummeting to my third death. It happened so fast. The pressure on my chest was causing me to fall without uttering a word. This was it; I was going to lose another life before I even had a chance to save my mother's.

Alek's P.O.V

Now where was that crazy girl of mine? It doesn't take that long to shower, does it? No, it couldn't. She's been in there for over thirty minutes. Maybe something's wrong. Maybe she's hurt! Maybe Zane is in there killer her as I sit here dreaming about her.

I stood up and ran to the bathroom as fast as my strength would permit. I started listening, even more intently then before. It was of no use despite the fact that I had amazing cat-like hearing. All that was heard was the sound of dripping water, no movement, no splashes, swishes, nothing at all! I started pounding on the door violently. I had to check on her.

"Chloe! Chloe? What are you doing in there?" I paused for a second listening for a response or anything that would give me a clue. "Chloe! Come out of there right now or I'll bust this damn door down!"

There was still no response. The only sound that could be heard was the Mai running in to check on all the commotion and my heartbeat picking up. I had to get in there and make sure she was okay. I don't give a damn if she's made, only that she is safe and heavily protected. I stepped back, lifted my foot up as high as possible and kicked the door right down.

I ran in not even bothering to step around the now busted door. I made my way to the shower opening the door and saw nothing. Where the hell could she be? I looked around searching for a clue and then I felt it. There was a chilling breeze coursing through the room. I ran to the window panicking. Could she have really been that foolish to climb down from eighteen stories? Oh wait this was Chloe we were talking about.

Chloe: the crazy, naive, incompetent, helpless, stubborn girl that I was madly in love with. I looked out the window, trying, hoping to get just a small glimpse of her wild wavy, blond-orange hair. There was nothing though, her scent was struggling to hold onto the window.

I rain out of the room, pushing past all the people. Screaming for them to go look for Chloe. I made it to the door yanked it open only to be pushed back in by over two dozen members of the Order. Shit. This was not what I needed right now. Everyone sprang into action trying to defend his or her territory. I started pushing and shoving everyone out of the way trying to get out of there.

I made it to the door and then busted into a sprint running to the stairs not even bothering to look back. I just keep running and running skipping almost ever third step. When I frantically made my way into the lobby rushing for the doors.

"Chloe! Chloe!" I screamed, looking every which way just praying that I would get a glimpse of her and her scent. And that's when I heard the cry.