CHAPTER TEN: One Banished, One Returned

This chapter is to all of the people who read this story. And I mean ALL of you.

I haven't updated in a while, but because you are all so nice with the reviewing, here are four chapters in a row! Let me know what you think…

"Schuyler and Oliver are almost ready to leave for the Bank, their favorite place to hang out at night .It seems that some other people may decide to tag along – or at least visit the club next door."

But then she remembered the maid; Jan; coming into her room the night before, tidying. She must just have put it in a different place; that was all. Schuyler made a mental note to ask her where she had moved it to. Schuyler was very attached to that earring; it was one of the few things she owned of her mother, Allegra. She selected a pair of 'diamond' studs instead. Most likely they were just glass, and they were nowhere near the size of the Tiffany ones her classmates wore; but she liked them anyway. Her outfit complete, she stepped back out to where Oliver was waiting for her. He smiled, and then looked slightly confused.

'Since when do you wear lip-gloss?' he wanted to know.

*****

Mimi and Bliss had their outfits sorted out for the night. Or rather, Mimi had hers all ready, and Bliss was scrambling to find something in the last twenty minutes before they left to Block122. Bliss had spent the past few hours helping her 'friend' try on every single piece of clothing she owned – or so it seemed. Some were rejected as 'too short', 'too long', 'too shiny', 'too plain', 'too cheap', 'too expensive', or the biggest insult an outfit could get from Mimi; 'too SCHUYLER.'

Bliss felt bad for the fact she had stopped talking to her friend, but being with Mimi again was just so much easier. Sometimes, when she heard Mimi being awful about the 'half breed', she just wanted to smack her one, but with Mimi, the consequences would be dire. And very, very painful.

Finally, Bliss decided on what she was going to wear. It was a black dress; short, sequined, and flattering for her long red hair. She slipped it over her head, the silk sliding in a smooth wave down her back. A quick make-up in front of her mirror (with film star lights all around the edge – a Bobi-Anne inspiration), and she was ready to leave. Her cellphone display read eight-twenty. Oh god, she had to meet Mimi outside the club at nine, and the traffic outside looked awful. If her full entourage wasn't there for when she stepped out of her limo, Mimi would skin them all alive.

She snatched up the nearest black heels she could see, and sprinted downstairs to the waiting car. As soon as the driver moved into traffic, she could finally relax.

*****

Mimi was ready to go. She looked stunning, and she knew it. As did the rest of the Universe – Mimi was in the centre, so what did you expect? But Jack was being particularly unresponsive, and he looked like he might even be getting bored of their games. Mimi was a little unsure of what to do, but then she caught herself. Since when did the younger Ms. Force not know what to do? Never. Schuyler van Alen was not going to be allowed to steal this victory away from her. She had seen Allegra van Alen lying comatose. And that was because of a broken bond. Bonds were not meant to be broken, not ever. Those who did would pay the price. Mimi shuddered in distaste. Imagine if that could be her, unknowing. And that would mean that the half-breed had won.

Her limousine sped downtown, oblivious to all other traffic. The lights streamed past the windows, cars and skyscrapers alike. Horns blared, and the wind outside rushed past her heavily tinted window, but Mimi felt completely safe. As if she was inside her own private universe; one that was dark and warm. She was going to one of her favorite ever places, with her favorite person in the world sitting next to her – glorious and sullen. Jack was trying hard to be excited for her, Mimi could tell.

Jack fiddled with his shirt, shooting covert glances under his lashes at his twin. She was staring dreamily out of her window, smiling a genuine smile – for the first time in days. She looked immortal and untouchable, swaddled in her own thoughts. But she also looked faintly vulnerable, her warrior mask had slipped. He was reminded once again of why Azrael and Abbadon were bonded together. At one point, and in all of his previous lives, they had truly been in love. Of late she had been proud and snappy, not at all the woman he remembered, but now, she was more like the soul he could recollect with amazing clarity. His fallen angel.

*****

The sinister beat of the dance music was pulsing out onto the street. People huddled in small groups, whilst still being in some semblance of a queue. There were a lot of crazy outfits, and even more crazy people. It was dark now, and the flashing strobe lights were giving many people a serious headache. The buildings were imposing and decrepit, the people and neon illumination of the place seemed like they were disturbing two ancient, resting, and long forgotten figures. The limos, town cars, and cabs were pulling up outside, tail lights flashing as they delivered wave after wave of impatient and glittering young adults onto the sidewalk.

The Force twins made their exit – even though it was technically an entrance. A large crowd of fawning teenagers surrounded them immediately. It was as though they radiated their own light, and people were instantly attracted to it. Stick thin models, hot new actors, and a whole flock of the in crowd. But then a longer and shinier car drew up. A distinctive head of bright red hair stepped out, and suddenly Mimi wasn't the centre of attention anymore.

Bliss looked around, disorientated. A sea of people was surrounding her, even bigger than the pack that surrounded Mimi. She was famous! A warm rush of adrenaline rush through her veins. After her first modeling job, other's had followed. Many others. Bliss was the name on everyone's lips, the photo on everyone's front page. She was not only the new Paris Hilton; she was the new Lindsey Lohan, Scarlett Johansson, and Mimi Force as well. But she was credited with having a lot more class, and better fashion sense. The flashes from camera phones partially blinding her – those were the people who visited the Bank, the trance-heads. No-one who visited Bank122 would ever stoop so low as to take a picture of the rich and famous. They were the rich and famous! – Bliss made her way to where she thought Mimi would be standing, furious. But she wasn't. Furious that is, as she was resting right there, in front of Bliss. And she was smiling. Not even a nasty smile, a vindictive smile, or a sarcastic smile. She was beaming at Jack, and also at Bliss. How unusual. Jack was looking back at her, and he looked like a man converted. Bliss felt a stab of foreboding shoot through her. She was friends with both Mimi and Schuyler; and the way Jack was apparently feeling didn't appear good for the latter party.

*****

Schuyler bobbed through the crowd, pushing past the desperate crush of fans taking pictures of some-one or other. Schuyler was trying to get to where she had last seen Jack, but being a lot smaller than the rest of the population outside the clubs, this was proving more difficult than expected. Finally, she broke the throng of people, and caught sight of them. And it certainly wasn't one she would forget. Ever. Mimi was lying back in Jack's arms, blissfully happy. Jack was standing there, wrapped around her, with a look on his face that screamed 'I love you'. But it was directed his twin sister. And Bliss Llewellyn was standing there looking awkward as near to a hundred people took her picture and screamed her name. Her eyes searched the crowd, and they settled on Schuyler in relief. She strode over, perfectly balanced in her five inch charcoal Manolo's. She shot her once-close friend a pleading look. It was clear she had no idea what she was supposed to do in this situation. Not that Schuyler would have any better clue, but it was too late. The crowd's lenses had followed Bliss, and now the two of them were recognized from the Stitched for Civilization advertisement that had overlooked the city for several weeks. Shouts of 'it's them' wet around like a terrible Mexican wave, and then everyone began snapping away.

Schuyler felt a boost of confidence from somewhere inside her, and she smiled at her friend. Bliss looked like she'd had the same idea, and smirked back. They started posing for the photographs, pulling all kinds of faces for the cameras. She could feel what felt like hundreds of stares boring into her, but at that moment, there was only one she wanted. This was the strongest 'look at me, Jack Force' she was ever going to give, and it worked. She met his gaze, and he looked at her, fairly dumbstruck. She nudged Bliss, and the two of them pouted and blew kisses to where he and Mimi were standing. His twin wasn't looking so happy; she could tell she didn't have his full attention any longer. And when he took a step towards Schuyler, as though hypnotized, her entire expression crumbled.

*****

A horrible mistrust stole over Mimi. It was like the feeling of graves. She shuddered. How did she know what graves felt like? Jack would never properly leave her, would he? Even if he did truly love that monster, he would never forsake her. They were twins, in every sense of the word. Of course they were. They were meant to be. No-one could change that. Just a moment ago, he had fallen back in love with her, she was sure of it. She had his undivided concentration, and they were happy. Delightfully so. And then the little whore had started posing with the senior member of Mimi's entourage, capturing his intrest. But the terrible feeling of loss and grave soil lingered with her, until she felt like screaming with a grief she couldn't understand.

Nowhere in her memories had she ever felt anything like it. Why were her cheeks wet? She was on the street, in front of a hundred cameras. But only a small part of her was even voicing this concern. The rest of her body was wracked with horrendous, shaking sobs. Warm, salty tears streamed from her eyes, and her knees were weak. She collapsed to the ground, writhing in an agony that was gripping and fearful. And it wasn't for herself. These were not selfish tears, not even tears for wounded pride. These weren't tears at Schuyler's expense, nor for all the times people hadn't been there for her. This sorrow was for a person – forgotten and precious, who Mimi would never know.

*****

I quite like this chapter, actually. I'm not so sure if you guys would like this story to get more serious, though… But let me know, anyway. xxx