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**Disclaimer: I do not own Nine Lives of Chloe king the book or TV show, but I do own all rights to this story and the actions and script within it.**

Ch.4 Learning About Responsibility

This is gonna hurt – SIXX A.M.

Feels like your life is over

Feels like all hope is gone

You kiss it all away

Maybe maybe

This is a second coming

This is a call to arms

Your finest hour won't be wasted wasted

Hey hey hell is what you make make

Rise against your fate fate

Nothing's gonna keep you down

Even if it's killing you

Because you know the truth

Chloes POV

I went back to work and tried to forget about my conversation with Amy. I couldn't though.

I kept wondering about my father. I had yet to email him and asked what happen because I was scared what I might find out. When he left all those years ago he created a void I can never fill and left a sense of betrayal that was unlike anything else. When I found out I was Mai I began to hope there was another reason for his sudden leaving. Maybe he left to protect me…

But now, now I feared he was a part of something much larger. I knew the people that attacked me were part of the Order so did that mean my own father was after me? I didn't know how to handle that possibility. I knew we weren't technically blood but why save me in Ukraine and raise me just to kill me later on. I had so many questions I needed the answers to but there was only so much hurt I could accept before it became too much.

My mother loved me as if she had me naturally so why didn't he? There was also another possibility that I couldn't quite contemplate let alone begin to accept… He could be dead. And that was a harsher reality to cope with. I would rather have him hate me than have him dead because even if he didn't love me, I loved him.

Eventually I let my mind wander of these hard topics and once worked finished I went straight to Valentina's .

"Where's Jeremy?" I asked to no one in particular as I entered the apartment and only found Allen and Alek.

Alek turned around from the refrigerator and strode toward me. "Why do you care?" I shrugged because I was just curious. "He was following you all day."

"Really? I wonder why he didn't say hi." I went and walked down to the room the girls were still in.

"You hate it when I bug you why would you want him to?" Alek sounded annoyed and I smiled a little but tried to hide it from him.

"Because he's funny and you're a pest." When I got to the room I noticed a woman standing next to Jasmine examining her while Logan was watching a few steps back. "Do you ever leave this room? And who are you?" I sounded completely snobby but I've had a rough week and was overly tired so they were gonna have to deal with it.

Alek came next to me and watched what the woman was doing as well. "She's the doctor. She has a theory to get them better."

I looked at her questioningly hoping she would fill me in. "It's nice to meet you Chloe, I'm Rebecca." She walked over to me and out her hand out to shake. I reciprocated and gave her a polite smile.

"It's nice to meet you too. So you know how to fix them?" She glanced back over at Val and Jasmine.

"Well not necessarily. I tested the poison and do believe it is Jackal Saliva but I don't have a sample to compare it to. It's definitely not human and not Mai but there are other possibilities I suppose. Going with the theory its Jackal though I believe we can cure them with uninfected Mai blood." She walked back over and started opening a bag and pulling medical items out. "Then poison is in their blood stream and I hope if we send in Mai blood that hasn't been infected and is mixed with an excessive amount of white blood cells it may counter balance it, maybe fight it out… or it could just infect that blood to but it's the only thing we've got going at this point."

She started to set up long plastic tubing on the bedside table. "Alek and Logan already donated blood but nothing appears to be changing. Unfortunately they can't stay in a coma like this for a long period of time and not be taken care of. Their body needs nutrition. I've fixed Jasmines wound and they both seem to be stable so I'll put them on a feeding tube and some monitors as well as catheters and keep them in the best condition I can until we figure out how to fix this."

I nodded feeling horrible about what was happening to them. It seemed almost demeaning that they needed feeding tubes and catheters but I understood how it was necessary.

I watched helplessly as she began to set everything up until Logan walked over and blocked my view. "Come on, We have things that need to be discussed."

Once we returned to the living room I noticed Jeremy had returned and I waved at him before sitting down next to Alek on the couch much like we had done before. I checked my phone real quick telling my mom I went to visit Jasmine and I would be home in an hour.

I wasn't lying to her but I wasn't telling her the whole truth.

"We need to figure out what to do with the pride while Valentina is otherwise indisposed." He worded that weird but I understood why didn't want to make the situation seem as harsh as it was.

"Like what?" Nobody else had said anything so I figured I would break the ice.

"For starters who will essentially lead?" I shrunk back into the couch because there was no way I was going to volunteer for that responsibility. I had enough on my plate with being the Uniter, school, my mom, Brian, jeez! There was even more and I simply didn't see how I could handle making decision for the entire pride.

I felt four sets of eyes resting on me and I refused to even move much less look up. The scene was set into a tense awkward feeling until I heard someone laugh and knew it was Jeremy.

"So Chloe's obviously not volunteering. Who's next?" Jeremy's voice held complete humor in it but it was nothing but the truth.

"Why don't you just lead Logan? You've got the most level head here and know more about what we're facing and dealing with than any of us do. The pride will listen to you." Alek spoke up then being to voice of reason.

I nodded enthusiastically it sounded pretty good to me.

"Is that what you all want?" He didn't sound thrilled about it but was willing to take on the responsibility anyway. Once everyone agreed he addressed me again. "You know Chloe essentially you're the leader of the Mai race I'm sure you could handle one pride."

I looked wide eyed at him. "Well thanks for putting me on blast like that. But noooo thank you. I'm taking this Mai stuff one paw at a time." Jeremy and Alek were the only ones who laughed and I was glad not every Mai was so serious.

"Okay, we need to deal with the Order as well." You could feel the amusement leave the room because everyone knew the seriousness of the situation.

"What can we do? Go after them? I wouldn't even know where to begin. Trust me I want them gone as much as the next girl but I just don't see where to start about dealing with the Order." I felt so helpless about the situation and I knew my voice portrayed that once I felt Alek's arm slide around my shoulder pulling me close to him, comforting me.

"We can deal with them soon enough. Right now I think keeping everyone safe take priority." His English accent washed over me and I let myself get lost in it for the moment.

"Very well. I'll figure out what to do for the time being. Chloe, Your mother is being watched closely as are you so for the time being I need you to recuperate because we need to get you back to training and at your best as soon as possible." He nodded his head to Alek in a silent conversation and I felt myself sag further into him as my lack of sleep was catching up to me.

"You look like crap." I gasped and looked up at the rude person.

"We'll you always look like crap Jeremy." He shrugged and looked at me and Alek.

"So? I have a girlfriend. I'm done impressing people. You on the other hand are single and a basket case. Alek is only going to be chasing after your Mai tail for so long before he gives up." I gaped at him this time not quite believing what I was hearing.

Alek's hand tightened on my shoulder and I felt his chest vibrate weirdly while he made a noise that sounded like a growl. Jeremy laughed loudly before walking over and patting both mine and Alek's head. "Calm down fur balls I'm just playing around."

Alek shot up and grabbed a hold of Jeremy's arm. "Don't touch me."

Jeremy laughed again before shaking Alek's hold off and poked him hard in the chest. "What are you gonna do about it?"

Before I knew what was happening Alek tackled Jeremy to the floor. I was freaking out because Alek looked seriously pissed off.

"Jesus, they always do this. Their lucky all of Valentina's furniture was destroyed that way they have room to act like barbaric fools." I looked over at Allen and noticed he seemed unaffected by what was happening.

"Should we stop this?" My voice was slightly high because I was worried about the fight as they continued to wrestle each other in front of me.

Allen shook his head and then looked up at me. "Join me on the balcony? Their gonna be at this for a while."

I was shocked at his request because I got the vibe that he didn't like me too much but I followed him anyway. We leaned against the railing and overlooked the city.

"I know I come off as harsh. I want you to understand I don't mean to be. It's just that I don't understand why you do the things you do." I looked at him questioningly and waited for him to explain. "You put people in your human life in unnecessary risk. I understand you love them and don't want to give them up, I also understand you didn't grow up as a Mai and the way we will is foreign to you."

He shook his head and looked up at me. "You're the Uniter and I mean you no disrespect but how do you have it in you to have such carelessness with their lives? You may have many lives but they do not and they have no real means to protect themselves against the enemies in your life."

I took a deep breath trying to not feel the truthfulness of his statement and not lash out in anger for his opinion. "I love them and they love me. It's as simple as that. If I were to just dismiss them from my life it would hurt them. I'm all my mother has, how could I just leave her? I know the price their paying for me even if they don't understand it but they were already involved the moment any of them met me. To me it seems the Order has no problems in hurting anyone so I figure what good would it do for me to leave? They could just use the people I care about against me and I would sacrifice myself willingly so if I stick around at least I can offer them some kind of protection."

Allen was quiet letting the words I said settle in his head. "I suppose I understand. I hadn't looked at it that way. But how do you think you can continue living both lives? Offering them protection is completely possible without always involving them. Whether you choose to admit it or not Mai and Humans cannot co-exist so closely."

"Isn't that what I was created for though? To unite the races again so we can co-exist? I have faith it's possible for everyone to live together in some kind of peace." I was grasping at straws here not because I wanted him to understand my motives but because I realized he had no hope in him.

"I believe you're here to stop the war and cease unnecessary death but there is no way we can co-exist in the way you want. Humans aren't able to accept another species in their world. Look below us Chloe. This entire earth is built around power. They are the top of the food chain not because they are smarter but because it's necessary for their psyche. They don't have it in them to allow something as different as us, they fear the unknown and cancel out anything they can't understand and deem it as a threat." We studied the people milling about below us and I was so shocked at what he was saying

"Humans can't even accept something as simple as different colors. How can something so simple like a different pigment in their skin cause such a rift amongst them? They cause war because of different belief systems and cause catastrophic trauma to their own world and land that they all need to survive off of for power. Could you imagine a world where you introduce a whole species that is stronger than them? It would cause chaos. They would want to test us like an experiment, poke at us to find out how it's possible we even exist. Decedents from a god and created out of cats… It would change all religion, completely contradicting what many believe and cause a war greater than anyone can comprehend. Although some would accept us, most fear what they cannot understand and the damages that would occur if they knew of us would be irreparable."

I felt my outlook on the world begin to crumble. I didn't want to believe what he thought but some of it held so much truth that I couldn't completely deny it.

"But what if they could accept us? I can't look at the world like that…" I looked at him imploringly hoping he would contradict his own words.

"Are you truly willing to test it?" He looked at me again and I saw no judgment on his features.

I furrowed my brow because he had me second guessing myself. "I don't know."

He turned around to go inside but also put a hand on my shoulder. "You're not expected to have all the answers Chloe. Maybe your just here to inspire us again, I know were losing faith that things will be okay for us again but you've already given hope to many of us."

With that he walked inside and gave me so much to think about. It was a few more minutes that I stood outside just people watching when I heard footsteps behind me.

"Are you okay?" Alek stepped beside me and glanced below to the same seem I was looking at.

I shrugged one shoulder and turned to look at him noticing his wrinkled clothing and messy hair. "Who won the wrestling match?"

He snorted and slugged his arm around my shoulder and led me into the house again. "Did you ever doubt that I wouldn't win? Please I never lose."

As we passed the living room I noticed Jeremy holding ice to his jaw and laughed a little. "You're ridiculous."

"No I'm Sexy, now let's get you home."

It didn't take us long to reach my house and Alek silently went to my roof as I walking inside.

"Mom?" I called to her as I set my backpack on the counter.

"Hey you, How you handling everything?" She got right to the point as she sat next to me at the dining room table.

"Ehhh. I'm ready to eat myself a freezer worth of ice cream and get lost in days of our lives." I feigned non-chalance.

She laughed and took my hand into hers. "Well that sounds like an amazing way to go! How about we do that until we pass out and have to un-button our jeans?"

I readily agreed and we spent the night enjoying some mother-daughter time. We laughed horrible movies and talked about our latest actor crushes. We spoke about Frank and for just one night I felt as though I wasn't Mai and I was simply my mother's teenage daughter.

I woke up around one A.M. next to my mother in her bed and went to move to my room where I found Alek reading a book on my bed.

"What are you reading?" I asked him as I settled underneath my covers facing him.

"Crime and Punishment." He said closing him book and turning over facing me as well.

I nodded my head as if I've knew exactly which book he was talking about and yawned. "Oh. That's great."

He chuckled lowly and continued to watch me as my eyes fought to stay open. "Good night Gorgeous."

"Night Alek." I let my eyelids close and felt myself being lulled to sleep while seeking some of his warmth I could feel radiating from him. "Alek?"

"Yeah?" He whispered as if not to disturb the calm that was encompassing us.

"Don't ever let me forget who I am." He was quiet for a while and I waited for his confirmation before I allowed myself to completely fall asleep.

"Never Chloe."

As always morning came too quickly and I awoke around six and noticed Alek had already left to shower and get ready for the day. I quickly left after telling my mother to have a goodbye.

I made my way quickly to where I had to go because I knew I didn't have much time before Alek realized I wasn't at school and would come looking for me. I let Amy know I wouldn't be going to school today and in true Amy fashion she wanted an explanation, I also let Paul know and gave him the duty to cover for me as much as he could.

As I made my way along the familiar streets I couldn't deny my nervousness. When the doctor had told me she had no sample to compare the poison with it got me to thinking. If I could get a sample of Jackal saliva then maybe while I'm at it I could find some answers that could help us.

So here I was going back to the last place I saw Kai.

Oooooo. Kai…. I liked him. Too bad he's a Jackal. Did Allen give you something to think about? I believe he made an extremely valid point.

Nessieness